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CELEBRATION 



ONE HUNDEEDTH ANNIVERSARY 

OF TUB INCOKI'OllATION OF 

AVESTMINSTEll, MASS. 

CONTAINING AN 

ADDRESS, BY HON. CHARLES HUDSON, 

OF LEXlNGTONj 
A 

POEM, BY MR. WILLIAM S. HEYWOOD, 

OF Jl I L F O K D ; 

AND THE OTHER 

PROCEEDINGS AND EXERCISES CONNECTED WITH THE OCCASION. 




BOSTON: 

PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN & SON, 42 CONGRESS STREET. 

18 5 9. 



F7i 

W'7Z I'V'f 



Westminster, November 25, ISoO. 
Hon. Charles Hudson : 

Dear Sir, — Agreeably to a vote of the Inhabitants of the Town, passed at a 
legal meeting, we respectfully request a copy of the Address prepared by you for our 
Centennial Celebration, that it may be published for distribution among the inhabitants 
of the town. Permit us to express the hope, that you will comply with our request. 

Very respectfully, yours, 

BENJAMIN WYMAN, 
WILLIAM S. BRADBURY, 
JOEL MERRIAM, Jr., 

Committee of Publication. 



Lexington, December 1, 1859. 
Gentlemen : • 

Your kind note of the 25th ultimo has been received ; and I do not feel at 
liberty to deny a request coming, as it does, from the Inhabitants of a Town with which 
I am connected by so many pleasant associations. But I wish to embrace this oppor- 
tunity to explain the character of the Address. I am sensible that it differs from most 
Addresses on such occasions. I was fully aware that an Address, more popular in its 
character, could be prepared with much less labor, and would be better adapted to the 
mere convivialities of the day. But being apprised in advance that it would be printed, 
and distributed among the Inhabitants of the Town, I chose to give it the character of 
a History, rather than that of an Oration. Great attention is paid, at this day, to his- 
torical and genealogical research, in every part of the country ; and great efforts are 
made to procure Town Histories, and thus preserve the perishing papers and fading 
traditions connected with our early settlements. As no full History of your Town has 
been written, and as many facts could now be collected which in a few years will be 
irrevocably lost, I have purposely given to my Address a historical and genealogical 
character, believing that that would be the most profitable in the end, though perhaps 
less pleasing at the time, I have been more full in the genealogy of the early families 
than of the later ; because the people now living can more easily supply the omissions 
in the later families, than in the families of the earlier settlers. 

I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, 

Your obedient and humble servant, 

CHARLES HUDSON. 
Benjamin Wyman, 
William S. Bkadbury, 
Joel Merkiam, Jr., Esqrs., 

Committee of Publication. 



NOTE. 

Westminster was incorporated as a District, October 20, 1759. 
That day would have been selected for the Celebration, but the adjoining 
town of Princeton was incorporated the same day, and it being under- 
stood that they would celebrate on that day, it was thought expedient 
to select some other day, so as to avoid all interference. Consequently, 
the 6th of October was selected for the Celebration at Westminster. 



/4 



^Ci_ 



^^C 



A D D E E S S . 



We have met here to-day, not to honor the hving, but to 
revere the dead. And, though we rightfully rejoice in the present, 
we glory in it as the result of the past. I stand here, to-day, to 
speak for the past ; and, in the name of that past, I welcome you 
to these hills and vales, made fruitful by the toil of your fathers ; 
to these rivulets, which watered and fertilized then' meadows ; to 
these delightful landscapes, which cheered and gladdened their 
hearts ; to this Hill, where they knelt in devotion, and to yonder 
valley, where their remains rest in peace. 

I am certain that the joys of this day will be heightened by a 
recurrence to days gone by, — by pleasant memories of the scenes of 
your childhood, and by the fond recollections of the mothers who 
bore, the fathers who protected, and the fiiends who surrounded 
you. The present is but the offspring of the past ; and filial 
gratitude requires that we should, at stated times, turn our atten- 
tion to what has gone before us. And surely it is not too much to 
turn aside from the bustle and business of life once in a Century, 
and contemplate our origin as individuals and as a community. 

The causes Avhich led to the settlement of New England, the 
landing of the Puritans upon these shores, the sufferings they en- 
dured, and- the fortitude with which they bore them — their love of 
education, their attachment to civil liberty, and, above all, their 
ardent devotion to the great principles of religion, " are known and 
read of all men," and need not be repeated here. 

Two hundred years ago, this section of the Commonwealth had 
been traversed only by the red men of the forest ; but they were 
then friendly, and were in a manner under the protection of the 



6 

Massachusetts Colony. For, on the 8th of March, 1644, at a 
Court held at Boston, Cutshamekin and Squaw-Sachem Masconomo, 
together with Nashacowam and Wassamagoin, two Sachems near 
the great Hill of the west, called Wachusett, came into the Court, 
and, according to their former tender to the Governor, desired to be 
received under the protection and government of the Colony. 

The covenant then entered into included all the Indians between 
the Merrimack River and Taunton, and so embraced those who 
had wandered about the Wachusett. The ceremony of receiving 
them consisted in teaching them a few of the great principles of 
the Christian religion and the ten commandments. When they 
were told that they must not swear falsely, they answered, in their 
simplicity, that they " never knew what swearing an oath was." 
And when they were told that they must not work on the Lord's 
day, they innocently said, " it was a small thing for them to rest on 
that day, for they had not much to do on any day ; and therefore 
they would forbear on that day." The Chiefs were received with 
great and solemn parade. They presented the Court with twenty- 
six fathom of wampum, and the Court gave each of them a coat 
of two yards of cloth, a good dinner, and to each of them a cup 
of sack at their departure ; so they went away joyfully. 

But while they were in quiet possession of the country north of 
the Wachusett, and manifested no unfriendly disposition, Philip, 
the bold and daring Chief of the Wampanoags, was, in 1675, plot- 
ting the extermination of the English settlements. Calling to his 
aid various tribes, and being joined by the powerful Narragansets, 
he became the terror of the Colonists. Massachusetts, Plymouth, 
and the neighboring Colonies, in order to resist the formidable 
force of this wily and daring Chief, ordered out most of the 
effective men in their respective dominions. This war, which 
lasted only about a year, was one of a most fearful and sanguinary 
character. Villages were burned, families were massacred, and all 
the barbarities of savage warfare were inflicted upon the inhabitants. 
And, while the women and children were exposed to all the hor- 
rors of the tomahawk and scalping-knife, of immediate destruction, 
or hopeless captivity, the poor soldiers in the field suffered incredi- 
ble hardships from a winter campaign in unexplored forests and 
dismal swamps, exposed at all times to the midnight surprise or 
secret ambush of an insidious foe, practiced in all the arts of guile, 
and in every species of cruelty and torture. This war cost New 



England the loss of six hundred men, and about the same number 
of dwellings laid in ashes by the ruthless savages. 

Owing to the poverty of the Colonies, these soldiers, the brave 
defenders of the English settlers, were, at the time, but poorly 
rewarded for their services. After the lapse of more than half a 
century, the surviving soldiers belonging to Massachusetts, and the 
representatives of those who were sleeping with their fathers, peti- 
tioned the Legislature for further remuneration. Whereupon, the 
General Couit, on the 15th of June, 1728, Resolved, 

" That Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove, Major Tileston 
and Mr. John Hobson, be a Committee, fully authorized and 
empowered to lay out two tracts of land for townships, of the 
contents of six miles square each, in some of the unappropriated 
land of the Province ; and that the said lands be granted and 
disposed of to the persons, whether officers or soldiers, belonging 
to this Province, who M'ere in the service of their country in the 
Narraganset war, or to their lawful representatives, as a reward for 
their public service ; and is in full satisfaction of the grant formerly 
made them by the Great and General Court ; forasmuch as it is 
the full intent and purpose of this Court, that every officer and 
soldier who served in said War, shall have a compensation made 
him over and above >vhat wages and gratuities any of them have 
already received : 

" That public notice shall be given in the News Letters, and 
advertisements be posted up in every town in the Province, notify- 
ing all persons that have served, and were in that fight, and the 
legal representatives of those deceased, that they give or send a 
list of their names and estates to this Court, at their next fall ses- 
sion ; and when such list is completed by a Committee then to be 
appointed by this Court, the Grantees shall be obliged to assemble 
in as short a time as they can conveniently, not exceeding four 
months, and proceed to the choice of a Committee to regulate each 
propriety, who shall pass such orders and rules as will effectually 
oblige them to settle sixty fomilies at least, in each township, with a 
learned orthodox minister, within the space of seven years, from 
the date of this grant : Provided nevertheless, if the said Grantees 
shall not effectually settle said number of families in each township, 
and also lay out a lot for said settled minister, one for the ministry, 
and one for the schools in each of said townships, they shall have 



8 

no advantage, but forfeit their said grants ; any thing to the con- 
trary herein contained notwithstanding." 

At the next session of the General Court, held in December, 
1728, the Committee, by their Chairman, Major John Chandler, 
submitted a " plan describing a tract of land containing 23,286 
acres, 2 roods and 10 perches, without allowing for the pond, 
which is supposed to contain at least 246 acres, 2 roods and 10 
perches. The residue (being 23,040 acres) is the content of six 
miles square, and laid out in as regular a figure as the land would 
admit of, for one of the townships granted by the General Court at 
their sesion held May 29, 1728, to the Narraganset soldiers ; 
which land lies adjoining to the towns of Rutland and Lunenburg 
Additional Grant, (now Fitchburg,) and elsewhere by Province 
land." 

Upon this Report it was resolved, " That the land protracted 
and described in the within plan, be and hereby is confirmed to the 
officers and soldiers who served in the Narraganset war." 

The list of claimants increasing, the Legislature at its session in 
June, 1732, ordered that further townships be surveyed, so that 
120 persons, whose claim shall be allowed within four months, shall 
be entitled to a township six miles square, under the aforemen- 
tioned regulations and restrictions. Though the tract which now 
constitutes the tov/n of Westminster, was surveyed, and by resolve 
granted to the Narraganset soldiers in 1728, it was not specifically 
confirmed to a particular company till 1732. Then it was resolved 
that this grant should belong to 120 persons, on condition that 
they should settle sixty families in seven years ; but this time was 
subsequently extended two years further. 

A general meeting of the Grantees was held by adjournment on 
Boston Common, June 6, 1733. It was found that the whole 
number of Grantees amounted to 840 ; whereupon it was agi'eed 
that they be divided into seven separate societies, of 120 members 
each — this being the number fixed upon by the Legislature for a 
township. Tlie Company which afterwards drew the township 
north of Wachusett, was composed of 17 Grantees from Cam- 
bridge, 33 from Charlestown, 27 from Watertown, 5 from Weston, 
11 from Sudbury, 7 from Newton, 3 from Medford, 6 from Mai- 
den, and 10 from Reading.* Of this number, only 19 were then 

* As this list shows, in part, who served in the Narraganset War, it may aid 
some inquirer by inserting the names. See Appendix A. 



9 

alive who had served in person, the other claimants were the heirs 
and representatives of those who perished in the war, or who had 
died subsequently. This Company organized by choosing John 
Getting of Watertown, James Lowden of Charlestown, and Joseph 
Bowman of Lexington, a Committee to manage their affairs. 

At a general meeting of the Narraganset Grantees, held at Boston, 
October 17, 1733, the townships were numbered ; and No. 1, on 
Saco River, was assigned to Philip Dane and Company, from 
Ipswich and vicinity. It is now known as the town of Buxton, 
Maine. After disposing of No. 1, they agreed to dispose of the 
others by lot ; but before casting lots, it was agreed that the Com- 
pany which should draw No. 2, near "Wachusett, should assign 500 
acres to His Excellency Gov. Belcher, for his honored father's right. 
On casting lots, James Lowden, for the Company, from Cambridge, 
&c., received No. 2, north of Wachusett.* 

Thus far the Grantees of the different Companies met together, 
and transacted their business in common. But having formed 
separate Companies, and each received its own township, each 
Company, in future, transacted its own business without any refer- 
ence to the others. The Proprietors of Narraganset No. 2, (for 
this was the name by M'hich the township was known, till it was 
incorporated in 1769,) held their first meeting in Cambridge, De- 
cember 3, 1733, and organized by choosing Joseph Bowman, 
INloderator, and William Willis of Medford, Clerk. At the same 
meeting they chose Joseph Bowman, then and for many years a 
prominent citizen of Lexington, John Cotting of Watertown, and 
James Lowden of Charlestown, a Prudential Committee. Subse- 
quently, at an adjourned meeting, Benjamin Brown of Watertown, 
William Brattle of Cambridge, Benjamin Pemberton and Edward 
Jackson of Newton, John Hall of Medford, and Nathaniel Nor- 
cross of Weston, were admitted to the Committee. 

At the same meeting they also made choice of a Committee to 
divide and lay out their lands. This meeting was adjourned to 

* No. 3, now Amherst, Ncnv Hampshire, but formerly known as Souhegan- 
AVest, was drawn by llichard Mower, for a Company from Salem and vicinity. 
No. 4, at Amuckeag, or Quubbin, was drawn by Edward Shove. No. 5, at 
Souhegan-East, now Bedford, New Hampshire, was drawn by Col. Thomas 
Tileston. No. 6, in the County of "Worcester, now Templeton, was drawn by 
Samuel Chandler. The grant for this Company was at hrst in New Hampshire, 
but not liking the location, another grant was substituted, viz., what is now 
Templeton. No. 7, in Maine, was drawn by Col. Shubael Gorhani. 



10 

the 17th, and then to the f24th of the same month. At these ad- 
journed meetings, they agreed to lay out their lands in lots of sixty 
acres ; and the Dividing Committee was authorized and empowered 
to add to this quantity where the soil was poor, so as to equalize, 
as nearly as possible, the value of the lots. They were further 
directed to omit all meadows and cedar swamps, if any there were. 
At the same meetings, they authorized the Standing Committee to 
tax the shares, and to apply to the Legislature for any additional 
powers they might deem necessary, in the management of their 
affairs. The Proprietors did not meet again till July. 

In the interim, however, the Standing Committee held several 
meetings at Capt. Bunker's in Charlestown. At their meeting, 
December 28th, they directed the Dividing Committee to '' fix 
upon a place for house lots. His Excellency's farm, and a proper 
place for a meeting-house ; and then lay out land sufficient for a 
meeting-house, training-field, and a burying-ground, not exceeding 
ten acres ; then a lot for the first settled minister, a lot for the 
ministry, another for schools, and then lots for the Proprietors." 

The place selected for the meeting-house was on the Hill, where 
the first two meeting-houses were erected. The Governor's farm 
was located southwesterly from the meeting-house lot, and con- 
tained 500 acres, and 20 acres for roads.* It included the land on 
which Capt. KnoAver, Messrs. James, John, and Joseph SaAvin, 
Mr. Aaron Darby, and Mr. Asa Holden, now reside. 

In fixing upon house lots, the Committee first laid out the 
" town street," where it now runs, through the Village and over 
the Hill, and then laid out the lots in the form of a parallelogram, 
one hundred and sixty rods by sixty, with one end bounded on the 
street. This form was departed from, in a few instances, in the 
first range of lots, and very frequently in other cases. At the same 
meeting the Standing Committee, foreseeing that the seven years 
allowed to settle sixty families in the township, would expire before 
that number could be settled, agreed to petition the General Court 
for an extension of the time. An application was accordingly 
made, and in April, 1734, they obtained an extension of the time 
till June 1, 1741. 

The Standing Committee met again January 21, 1734. At that 

* In laying out their lots, they generally specified a certam number of acres 
for roads, so that if their lands were subsequently taken to that amount, they 
■were not entitled to any damage. 



11 

time no settlement was made, or house erected, in the township. 
The Committee contracted with Edward Jackson of Newton, and 
Zechariah Smith of Watertown, for ninety dollars, to " erect a 
house in the township, twenty-two feet long, sixteen feet wide, and 
seven feet studs, to be built of square timber, framed roof, covered 
with long shingles, and having a good stone chimney." This 
dwelling was erected early in the season of that year ; for at their 
meeting in July, 173-i, the Proprietors voted " that the house erected 
on lot No. 1, be for the use of the Proprietors for seven years, and 
after that shall belong to the person Avho shall own the lot." This 
was the first building erected in the township. It was built of 
square timbers, laid one upon another, after the manner of building 
log-houses. It was situated a little west of the present Baptist 
meeting-house, and was unoccupied, except occasionally by survey- 
ors, committees, &c. who visited the township, till 1787, when it 
became, for a short time, the residence of Capt. jNIoore, the first 
settler in the town. 

In July, 1734, the Proprietors met at Watertown, and voted 
that lot No. 8, be assigned to the first settled minister, and No. 95, 
be the ministerial lot. After disposing of these, they proceeded to 
draw their lots. These lots contained about sixty acres, and were 
called First Division Lots. The rest of the land remained undi- 
vided, and was owned in common by the Proprietors. 

Though the Proprietors had several meetings, nothing of moment 
was transacted till, at their meeting in May, 1735, they contracted 
with Maj. William Brattle, of Cambridge, to build a good saw-mill 
in the township, and keep it in repair twenty years, in consideration 
of twelve acres of " meadow swamp," to be set oflf to him by the 
Proprietors ; and the privilege of flowing all the meadows above his 
lot, from the last of September to the tenth of April, from year to 
year. This mill was erected and completed early in 1736. This 
was the second building erected in the town. It was located at the 
head of the " Narrows," where Mr, Wyman's dam now stands. 
The erection of this mill must have exerted a very considerable 
influence upon the early settlement of the place ; as it afforded 
facilities for building, which were much needed in this wilderness. 
Timber was abundant, and with a mill to convert it into suitable 
forms for building, one of the great evils of a frontier settlement 
was overcome. 

As yet no settlement had been made. The Proprietors were not 



12 

very desirous of leaving the comforts of civilized life, near the 
metropolis, and of settling in a wilderness, made vocal by the 
howling of wild beasts. At that time the whole township was a 
dense and almost impenetrable forest. Save the surveyors and 
a few land speculators who visited the place, these fields had never 
been traversed but by the roving savage. These rivulets which 
now contribute to works of art and to the comforts of civilized 
life, then meandered through the thickets or glided down their 
rocky beds unseen by the white man. The lofty pine and the 
stately hemlock bowed in the breeze and sang their mournful 
requiem to none but the red men of the forest. No wonder there- 
fore, that our fluhers were not over solicitous to take up their abode 
in a trackless waste, and to exile themselves from the comforts of 
life, and from the social and religious privileges of older settlements. 

At their meeting in May, 1735, the Proprietors offered a bounty 
of forty dollars each to the first fifteen families which would 
settle in the township before the 30th of September, 1736. This 
proving Ineffectual, at their meeting in June, 1736, the Proprie- 
tors offered a bounty of thirty-three dollars to each of the first 
sixty families, which would settle in the township within two years. 
At the same meeting, they levied a tax of sixteen dollars and sixty- 
seven cents upon each Proprietor, to enable them to hold out these 
inducements to settlers. The bounty above mentioned was offered 
on condition that each settler should enter into bonds to clear, 
fence, and prepare for cultivation, three acres of land, erect a framed 
house, and continue in the place a certain length of time ; each 
family to settle on a separate lot. Though they required each set- 
tler to erect a framed house, it will not be considered a very ex- 
travagant demand, when it is known that the house need be only 
eighteen by sixteen feet — barely enough for one good-sized room. 
No settlement, however, was effected till the next spring. 

We come now to the most difficult part of our narrative. To 
fix the dates at which the different families came to the place, is no 
easy task. Here the Proprietors' records afford us but little assist- 
ance. The settlement was not sufficiently early to be connected 
with scenes of Indian warfare, and so have the dates written In 
blood, in the annals of savage massacre ; and, at the same time, it 
w^as so remote, that accurate records were not kept. Nor will the 
recollections of the oldest inhabitant reach back to the period 
when the first settlers came to the place. Some, and perhaps 



13 

most of the settlers who had families, were in the place a portion 
of one or two seasons before they removed their families. If, 
therefore, all the particulars were known, it would be difficult to say- 
when certain persons became permanent inhabitants ; and it is more 
difficult now, when most of the fixcts are lost. 

Captain Fairhanks Moore, from Lancaster, was the first who 
removed his family into the place. He came to Narraganset in 
March, 1737. He at first took up his abode in the house erected 
by the Proprietors on lot No. 1. This, however, was not the lot on 
which Captain Moore settled. He simply took up his residence in 
the Proprietors' house, till he could erect a dwelling upon his own 
farm, which he did in the course of the season. It was a framed 
house, and was situated at the north-east end of the Pond, near the 
spot where Mr. Solon Raymond now resides. Here, if we may 
believe tradition, the first birth and the first death occurred — both 
children of Captain Moore. No record of this birth or death has 
been found ; but there is a rough stone in the old part of the burial 
ground, marked, " A. M. 1742," said to have been erected for 
Abner Moore, a lad twelve or fifteen years of age. This is un- 
doubtedly the oldest stone in the yard. Captain Moore was an 
active and enterprising citizen. As early as 1740 or '41, he 
opened a public house, which was the first opened in the town- 
ship. 

He was engaged, like many others in his day, in land specula- 
tions. Nor did he confine his operations to Narraganset ; but ex- 
tended them to the unsettled townships on Connecticut River. He 
left this place probably about 1746, and went to Fort Dummer, 
now Brattleborough, Vermont, where one of his sons had fixed 
his abode. While at that place, he was on a visit at his son's 
house, about two miles from the Fort, when the Indians attacked 
the house in the night time. Moore and his son fought desperately, 
but were overpowered by numbers, and both massacred.* 

* Stephen Greenleaf, Esq., of Brattleboroui^h, Vermont, in answer to a letter 
addressed to him on this subject in 1831, says : " In my early days I lived two 
years on a farm then called ' Arm's Meadows,' where the remains of Fairbanks 
Moore lie interred in the barn-yard. I have in recollection what Colonel John 
Sargeant (the first Avhite person born in Vermont) many times repeated in my 
hearing, that Fairbanks Moore was on a visit at his son's house (something 
more than two miles from the then Fort Dummer); that while he was there, the 
house was beset by the Indians, and a bloody scene ensued ; that ^loore and his 
son fought bravely, were overpowered and killed in the conflict, and eventually 



u 

Deacon Joseph Holden was the second settler in the town. He 
came to the place in March, 1737, and commenced clearing his 
land. He soon returned to Watertown, and, on the 13th of June, 
he left that place for the wilds of Narraganset. He arrived at 
Lancaster the next day, where he left his wife and two young 
daughters, together with his son Abner, a lad fourteen years of age, 
while he and his son Joseph, then just of age, came on to the town- 
ship, where they arrived, June 15th. His son Stephen, a young 
man of twenty, soon joined them, and they commenced erecting a 
house. We have already said that Captain Moore built him a house 
that season. The houses of Deacon Holden and of Captain Moore 
were both raised the same day, and were the first framed houses in 
the place. Deacon Holden's house was situated on or near the 
spot where Deacon Joel Merriam now resides, a few rods west of 
the Baptist meeting-house. 

Having put his house in a comfortable condition, his wife and 
children came from Lancaster during the autumn, and took up their 
abode in this howling wilderness. On this lot Deacon Holden 
resided till his death, which occurred November 30, 1768, in the 
eighty-sixth year of his age. During his thirty-one years' residence 
in Narraganset, he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow- 
citizens. He was elected the first Deacon of the Church which was 
gathered in 1742, and filled various offices of honor and trust. 

His son Abner, of whom we have already spoken, became one of 
the most popular and influential citizens in the town. Called early 
to public life, he became acquainted with public business, and, for 
a long series of years, sustained some of the most important offices 
in the gift of the people of the place. He filled the office of Dis- 
trict and Town Clerk, served in the capacity of Selectman, and 
Delegate to the Provincial Congress, and was for years the prin- 
cipal Magistrate in the place. Some of these offices he sustained 
till the close of his life. 

He married Elizabeth Darby, February 25, 1752. His children 
were, Joseph, born August 2, 1753 ; Ruth, born December 10, 
1754 ; Elizabeth, born January 17, 1757 ; Relief, born October 18, 
1758 ; Abner, born June 29, 1760 ; Phebe, born July 30, 1762 ; 

buried in said barn-yard. The grave is monumcnted only -witli a solitary stone, 
placed horizontally upon it, unhewn and iminscribed, and is passed over as 
heedlessly by the tramplmg of feet and the rattling of -wheels, as any other ma- 
terial in the cart's way." 



15 

Ezra, born December 5, 1764 ; Abigail, born April 25, 1767 ; and 
Lucy, born February 25, 1770. 

It was the fortune of Abner Holden, Esq., to witness all the 
difficulties and dangers through which the infant settlement had 
to pass ; and to behold it at last permanently established, enjoying 
peace and prosperity. He died October 22, 1805, aged eighty- 
three, after a residence in the place fifty-eight years. 

Joseph Holden, the oldest son of Deacon Joseph, came into the 
place with his flither in 1787. lie died unmarried, September 14, 
1774. He filled almost every office of honor and trust in the Dis- 
trict, the duties of which he fulfilled with fidelity, and died sud- 
denly, greatly lamented, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. 

Stephen Holden, the second son of the Deacon, and who came 
into the place the same season, settled on the lot where Mr. Jonas 
Cutler now resides. His wife's name was Abigail, by whom he 
had Samuel, born January 1, 1752, died June 8, 1788 ; Stephen, 
born May 16, 1755 ; Abigail, born March 23, 1757 ; Elias, born 
May 28, 1758 ; Levi, born December 2, 1762 ; Ehzabeth, born 
October 30, 1766. Stephen Holden died September 15, 1794, 
aged seventy-six. 

Deacon Holden's family consisted of himself and wife, three 
sons, and two daughters ; Captain Moore's, of himself and wife, 
and six children. These two fnnilies, consisting of fifteen persons, 
were the first to take up their abode in this desert. Here they 
spent their first winter, without any other family in the township. 
It is impossible for us to enter into the feelings which must have 
actuated the first settlers. The prospect of converting a wilderness 
into a fruitful field, and making the desert rejoice and blossom as 
the rose, must have cheered and gladdened their hearts. But, on 
the other hand, dangers were to be encountered, and hardships 
were to be endured. Exiled from the abodes of civilized men, 
they found themselves joint-tenants of the forest with savages and 
wild beasts. When the settlement first commenced, there were no 
inhabitants within twelve or fifteen miles, llutland and Lunenburg 
were the nearest settlements, and these were about twelve miles 
distant, through a trackless wilderness. Lancaster, though fifteen 
or sixteen miles distant from Narraganset, may be considered the 
nearest settlement ; for it was through this place that all the early 
settlers came, and to Lancaster they resorted for those necessaries 
of life which the wilderness did not afford them. One of the early 



16 

settlers* thus describes the condition of the place, and its first 
inhabitants : 

" A howling wilderness it was, where no man dwelt ; the hid- 
eous yells of wolves, the shrieks of owls, the gobbling of turkeys, 
and the barking of foxes, was all the music we enjoyed ; no friend 
to visit, no soul in the adjoining towns — all a dreary waste, exposed 
to a thousand difficulties." 

In addition to the privations and hardships mentioned above, 
the winter of 1738-9 was unusually severe, but less so than the 
one that followed. The snow, during both of these winters, was 
at least four feet deep, for months in succession. No winters, 
during the past century, save the memorable winter of 1779-80, 
can compare with them for depth of snow and severity of cold. 
Thus cut off from the mill at Lancaster, to which place they 
usually carried their grain, the inhabitants were reduced to the 
necessity of adopting the Indian custom of pounding their grain in 
a mortar. Bread prepared in this manner, and game from the 
forest, constituted their principal food during the long, inclement 
season ; and of this the quantity was small, and the supply scanty. 
Such, and many other privations, difficulties and dangers, beset 
the early settlers of the place — privations and difficulties fiom 
which the poorest and most destitute at this day are exempt. 

Deacon Joseph Holden being the first permanent resident in 
Narraganset, and his family the most controlling and influential for 
half a centuxy, it seems proper to give a more detailed account of 
the flunily. 

Justinian Holden embarked at Ipswich, England, for America, 
in April, 1634. He was one of the Proprietors of Watertown, in 
1642, and was made a freeman. May 6, 1657. In 1653, then of 
Watertown, he purchased a farm in Cambridge, consisting of two 
hundred and ninety-four acres, with a dwelling-house and barn 
upon the same, bounded by Fresh Pond and the Watertown line. 
His wife died 1672, without issue, and he married Mary, daughter 
of John Putter, of Sudbury, who was born in 1647, and was 
thirty-four years younger than himself. By his second wife he had 
four sons and three daughters. 

Joseph, his youngest son, w^as born September 6, 1683, when 
his father was seventy years of age. Joseph, the early settler in 
Westminster, was consequently of the first generation of Holdens, 

* Abncr Holden, Esq. 



w 



17 

born in this country. He married, February IT, 1714, Abigail 
Shattuck, and had Joseph, born June 30, 171G ; Stephen, born 
October 21, 1717 ; Abigail, born October 19, 1719 ; Abner, born 
November 2, 1722 ; Jonathan, born June 6, 1725 ; and Elizabeth, 
baptized April 26, 1730. He resided in Watertown, where he 
M'as a Constable, in 1732, and from this place came to Narraganset, 
as before stated. 

The Holdens were not only a prominent and numerous family, 
but by intermarriages became connected with most of the other 
families in the place. 

When the settlement was commenced, there was not even a 
" marked road " to the township. The first families wended their 
way from Lancaster, through the trackless desert, to Narraganset 
No. 2, as best they could. But in November of 1737, the Pro- 
prietors, at their meeting in Cambridge, chose a Committee, of 
Avhich Joseph Holden was one, to look out and mark a road from 
Lancaster to Narraganset No. 2, and through said township to the 
Meeting-house Lot ; the said road to be laid out and mended, 
where it will best accommodate the whole town. This road was 
located over Gerry Hill, in the northerly part of Sterling, and con- 
tinued to be the main traveled road to Lancaster and Boston for a 
great number of years. At the same meeting, it was agreed that 
a meeting-house in the township should be commenced the next 
season. 

In 1738, Philip Bemis, of Cambridge, removed his family to 
the township. He was the third settler in the plantation. He 
located himself on what is now known as the old Turnpike, below 
the burying-yard, near where Mr. Benjamin F. Battles now resides. 
His family consisted of six or seven persons, among which was an 
infant, by the name of Daniel Muntjoy, Avho died in 1835, in 
the one hundredth year of his age. We find no record of Philip 
Bemis's family. It is supposed, however, that William Bemis, 
who married first, Rosiner, and second, Abigail Annis, and 
who died November 8, 1801, aged seventy -five, was one of his 
sons who came with him to No. 2 ; and that Captain Edmund 
Bemis, who commanded a Company in the Revolutionary service, 
was another son of Philip. Captain Edmund married, 1760, 
Elizabeth Rand, and had Elijah, Edmund, Samuel, Ebenezcr, and 
three daughters. He died December 1, 1807, aged seventy-five 
years. David Bemis was also a son of Philip. 
3 



18 

Thomas Bemis came to Narraganset soon after his brother 
Phihp, and settled on or near the spot where Mr. Timothy Brown 
now resides. His ilimily consisted only of himself and wife, who 
died 1798, aged one hundred years, Anna, their first child, born 
April 22, 1741, if we may believe tradition, was the first female 
child born in No. 2. She married John Estabiook, at the age of 
fifteen, was the mother of fourteen children, and died February 
26, 1832, aged ninety-two. The Bemises were probably the de- 
scendants of Joseph Bemis, of Cambridge, who served in the Nar- 
raganset war. The Bemises in Westminster were at one time quite 
numerous, and by marriage became connected with many other 
families. 

During the same year, the Proprietors were taking measures to 
settle the township. At a meeting held January, 1738, they agreed 
to divide their meadow lands, which were omitted in the first 
division. The Proprietors met again in September. At this time 
four families had settled on the plantation, and the building of the 
Meeting-house would naturally call people to the place, temporarily 
at least. To meet their wants, and to induce others to settle, the 
Proprietors, at this meeting, granted one hundred dollars for the 
support of the Gospel in the township. In December, of the same 
year, another hundred dollars was added ; and the sum of two 
hundred dollars a year was continued, till a clergyman was settled 
among them, 

June 6, 1739, the Proprietors met for the first time in the town- 
ship. The Meeting-house being completed on the outside, it was 
that day publicly dedicated. The sermon was preached by Rev. 
Isaac Richardson, of Woburn, from Haggai ii. 9. This house was 
forty-five feet long and thirty-five feet wide, with twenty feet 
posts. It was situated on the Meeting-house Lot on the Hill, which 
is still kept open as a Public Common. This lot was at first laid 
out in a square form, and contained about six acres. It has since 
been reduced to nearly three acres. This house stood a few feet 
in front of the house which succeeded it, and remained till the 
erection of the new house in 1788, when it was moved off, and 
converted into a barn, by Mr. Rice, then the pastor of the Parish. 
In this bumble capacity, the old churcli stood till about 1837, 
when Mr. Abraham Wood, who had succeeded to the estate, being 
desirous of a more commodious barn, demolished the old Meeting- 
house. But even then, out of respect to its past services, and the 



19 

soundness of the frame, a portion of the large timbers were used 
in the new frame, where they bid fair to remain another generation, 
and will perhaps complete their second century. 

In 1740, Thomas Stearns, from Watertown, came to the town- 
ship, and located himself at or near w^iere Mr. Job Seaver now 
resides. lie was a descendant of the second generation from Isaac 
Stearns, who came to America in 1630, in the same ship with Gov- 
ernor Winthrop and Sir Richard Saltonstall, and settled in Water- 
town. Thomas Avas a son of John Stearns, of Watertown, and 
was born October 8, 1711. He married after he came to Narra- 
ganset, August 9, 1744, Hannah Clarke, of Newton. He died April 
29, 1785, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He was a man 
of character and standing in the town and church, being a Deacon 
in the church, and filling important offices in the town. He was 
a brother of Rev. David Stearns, of Lunenburg. 

The Proprietors, at a meeting in September, 1740, granted 
thirty-three dollars to make and mend the roads in the township. 
At the same meeting they contracted with Mr. Seth Walker, to 
build a Grist Mill. This mill was situated at the outlet of West- 
minster Pond, where Mr. Walker fixed his residence. 

The subject of a Corn Mill had been agitated by the Proprietors, 
for two or three years, but not till this time was any efficient meas- 
ure adopted to create this necessary appendage to every settlement. 
This mill was erected the following year, and of course was the 
first building of the kind in the township. The erection of this 
mill would obviate one great objection to settling in the place, as 
it furnished the means of preparing food, both for man and beast. 

Captain Daniel Hoar may be considered as the next settler. 
We find him in the place as early as 1739, employed on a Commit- 
tee for building a Grist Mill. But it is probable it was not till the 
latter end of the next year, or the commencement of 1741, that he 
became a permanent resident in No. 2. He first commenced on a 
lot in the southerly part of the town, and built him a cabin on the 
margin of " Beaver Swamp," so called, about one hundred rods 
southerly of the present residence of Mr. Jonas INIiller. But being 
dissatisfied with the location, he left that lot, and commenced per- 
manently on the lot where Allen's tavern-house now stands. He 
erected a house on the north-westerly part of the lot, near the 
present burial ground. Here he remained till his death, which 
occurred December 4, 1782. The Hoar family of Massachusetts, 



20 

dates back to the early settlement of the Colony. According to 
tradition, the ancestor of this family came over early, and died at 
Boston, soon after his arrival, leaving among other children, John, 
who resided first at Scituate, and afterward at Concord, where he 
died, 1704, leaving two daughters and a son, Daniel, born 1650. 
Daniel married and reared a numerous family, ainong whom was a 
son bearing his own name. This latter Daniel, born 1680, mar- 
ried Sarah Jones, December 20, 1705, He resided in Concord, 
where he died February 8, 1773. His second son, Jonathan, was 
graduated at Harvard College, 1740, was an officer in the French 
and Indian wars, and after the peace of 1763, went to England, 
and was appointed Governor of Newfoundland and the neighboring 
Province, but died on his passage thither. Daniel, his third son, 
entered Harvard College, 1730, but did not graduate. He came 
to Narraganset, as we have already said, in 1740 or '41. He mar- 
ried, November 2, 1743, Rebecca Brooks, of Concord, and had 
Daniel, born October 19, 1744, and died in his twentieth year ; 
Sarah, born January 5, 1749 ; Rebecca, born June 23, 1754 ; 
Stephen Brooks, born July 15, 1758 ; Charles, born September 5, 
1761, died young; Samuel, born August 24, 1763, married 
Deborah Bigelow, and had Daniel, George A., Samuel, Francis A., 
and Charles B. Charles B., who has taken the name of Hoard, 
resides at Watertown, New York, and represents that District 
in Congress. As Daniel Hoar was one of the first settlers, so 
he became one of the first citizens, of Westminster. He was one 
of the Selectmen on the incorporation of the District, to which 
office he was often re-elected. He filled other civil offices, and 
was honored with the command of a Company of Militia, when 
that post implied more than it does at present. 

Seth Walker became an inhabitant of the place in 1741. He 
had been in the township the preceding year, and had contracted 
to build the mill of which we have before spoken. Mr. Walker's 
dwelling was near the present residence of Mr. John K. Larnard. 
He was from Sudbury. 

If we place Deacon Joseph Miller, next in order of time 
amons: the settlers, it cannot be far from the truth. He came from 
Newton. He was a son of Samuel and EHzabeth (Child) Miller, 
aud was born July 29, 1716. His father was Selectman in Newton, 
1743, and died in Worcester, 1759, aged eighty-one. In 1740, 
Joseph Miller purchased his land, and the same year we find him 



21 

in the township. He probably married about the time he came 
to Narraganset. By his wife INlary, he had eleven children : 
viz. Joseph, born Jidy 27, 1741 ; Mary, born March 16, 1743 ; 
Ephraim, born September 16, 1744; Martha, born September 11, 
1746 ; David, born August 8, 1748 ; John, born August, and 
died August 8, 1750; Samuel, born July 20, 1751 ; Isaac, born 
March 31, 1754 ; Esther, born March 9, 1756 ; Elizabeth, born 
March 16, 1758 ; John, born September 22, 1762. Esther died 
October 17, 1850, at the advanced age of ninety-four years, four 
months and three days. 

He fixed liis residence a little in the rear of the present resi- 
dence of Mr. Jonas Miller, his great-grandson. He was chosen 
one of the Deacons, at the first organization of the church in 1742, 
and became one of the most prominent citizens, both in the district 
and in the town. He performed a good deal of public business, 
and his papers, many of which were preserved, show that he did 
business carefully and correctly. Under the district organization, 
he was chosen Clerk, Assessor and Treasurer, and for many years, 
both under the district and town organizations, he served on the 
board of Selectmen. In the trying days of the Revolution, M'hen 
the people would naturally fall back upon their most reliable men. 
Deacon Miller was called to act as Selectman, Treasurer, and 
Representative. Deacon Miller's descendants in Westminster, 
have been numerous. His son Joseph, married Lucy Walker, and 
had James, John, Isaac, Joseph, and four daughters. Ephraim 
married Beulah Wheeler, and had Asa, Ezra, John, and three 
daughters. Samuel married Lydia Cutting, and had Joseph, 
Samuel, John C, David, Aumas, and two daughters. Isaac mar- 
ried Sarah Bennett, and had Joseph, Isaac, Benjamin, and three 
daughters. 

Joseph Lynde, from Maiden, M^as another of the early settlers. 
He came to the place in 1741, and fixed his residence about one 
hundred rods from the Common. The remains of the cellar are 
still to be seen, on the north side of the road, half way from the 
Common to the residence of Mr. Horatio Eagar. 

Benjamin Garfield, from Waltham, came to No. 2, in 1741, 
and commenced on the lot where widow Maria Baker now lives. 
He cleared the land in some degree, and erected a house and barn. 
In January, 1743, he sold his lot, with the buildings thereon, to 
Richard Graves, then of Sudbury. Mr. Graves moved to the 



22 

township in the spring of that year, and was of course one of the 
early settlers. He married and had one child, before he came to 
Narraganset. His wife's name was Patience. His children were 
Patience, born in Sudbury, June 9, 1742; Lucy, born September 
7, 1743 ; Peter, born November 25, 1745 ; Priscilla, born March 
9, 1748 ; Richard, born April 17, 1750 ; Jonathan, born July 2, 
1752; Levi, born July 11, 1754; and Abigail, born November 
17, 1756. Richard Graves became an influential citizen, filled 
several important town offices, and was dignified with the title 
of Ensign. He died March 28, 1798, aged eighty-eight; and his 
wife died February 1, 1800, aged eighty-seven. Benjamin Garfield, 
the first owner of the lot, remained in the place, and filled many 
subordinate town offices. 

We cannot arrange the families in the exact order in which they 
settled, but will do it as far as it is practicable. In June, 1742, 
Eliezer Bigelow moved his family to Narraganset, and settled 
on the lot, on which the late John Bigelow resided, — though his 
house was sixty or seventy rods westerly of the residence of John, 
his grandson. He was a son of Joshua Bigelow, of Watertown, 
who was wounded in King Philip's war. Joshua was a son of 
John Bigelow, of Watertown, who was early in that place, and 
was the ancestor of most of the name in New England. Joshua 
Bigelow was the only soldier who served in the Narraganset war, 
that ever settled on the grant. He died February 21, 1745, and 
is said to have been the first adult person who died in the 
township. 

Eliezer Bigelow married, November 24, 1724, Mary Fiske, of 
Watertown, by whom he had seven children, all born before he 
came to Narraganset. His sons were Benjamin, born October lo, 
1726, who moved to Portsmouth ; Elisha, born January 11, 1728, 
married, 1757, Sarah Cooledge, and had Ephraim, Elisha, and 
Abijah, and three daughters ; Abijah graduated at Dartmouth 
College, 1795, studied law, settled in Worcester, was Clerk of 
the Court, and represented the District in Congress ; he is still 
living, in his eighty-fifth year. Joshua, born April 12, 1733, 
moved to Genesee ; and Jabez, born December 19, 1736, mar- 
ried 1761, Deborah Knowlton, of Shrewsbury, and had eight 
sons — John, born June 27, 1762 ; Jabez, born March 26, 1764 ; 
Benjamin, born August 6, 1765 ; Abraham, born December 21, 
1768 ; Ezekiel, born April 4, 1772 ; Luke, born April 26, 1774, 



23 

still living ; Reuben, born November 22, 1775 ; and Asa, born 
August 19, 1779. 

Eliezcr Bigelow, the first settler, died February 24, 17()2, aged 
fifty-seven years. His descendants became numerous and inliucn- 
tial in Westminster. 

The Bigelows, or Baguhys, as they were originally called, 
(taking the name of the place where they resided,) were an ancient 
family in England, and have been traced back to the reign of 
Henry IH., when Eichard was lord of Baguley. In the reign of 
Henry VII., Kalph de Baguley was lord of Ollerton Hall, and died 
1540, leaving Randall and Nicholas. Randall died 1556, and his 
sons, Philip and Robert, divided his estate. Robert died 1582, 
leaving Randall and John, both of whom moved to Suffolk. 
Randall died 1626, leaving two sons, Francis and John. Francis 
died 1657, and gave by will a portion of his property to his 
brother John, then in New England. John Avas baptized in 
England, February 16, 1617 ; he came early to Watertown, where 
he married, October 30, 1642, jNIary Warren, also born in England. 
He was father of Joshua, who was born November 5, 1655. The 
name in Watertown Records, is variously written, Bigulah, Biglo, 
and Bigloiv. 

In 1741, or '42, Samuel Whitney, from Weston, came to the 
place and located himself near the present residence of Mr. Hart- 
w^ell, — the old cellar is still visible. He was a son of William 
AVhitney, of Weston, and descended from John Whitney, who 
came from England to this country in 1635, and settled in Water- 
town. Samuel Whitney, the early settler in Narraganset, was born 
May 23, 1719, and married, October 20, 1741, Abigail Fletcher. 
He came to this place about the time of his marriage, and like most 
of the early settlers, had a large family of children. His children 
numbered thirteen : Abigail, born August 27, 1742 ; Mary, born 
May 29, 1744; Samuel, born February 11, 1746, married 1783 to 
Mrs. Thankful Wilder, and had Plyney, Smyrna, and Moses ; 
Abner, born May 18, 1748, married first. May 14, 1770, Elizabeth 
Glazier, and had Oliver, John and Levi ; married second, Lovina 
Ward, and had Jonas, Joseph, Abel, and two daughters ; Achsa, 
born September 30, 1750 ; Silas, born October 20, 1752 ; Martha, 
born November 26, 1755 ; Elisha, born July 2, 1757, married, 
1781, Eunice Seaver, and had Joseph and Norman S., and four 
daughters ; Alpheus, born February 25, 1759 ; Phinehas, born 



24 

January 16, 1761, marriecl, 1788, Elizabeth Rand, and had John 
and Thomas, and three daughters ; Hannah, born December 18, 
1762 ; Martha, born September 18, 1764 ; Susanna, born Febru- 
ary 9, 1767. 

Lieutenant Samuel "Whitney not only contributed his full share to 
people the town, but he filled some of the first offices in the place — 
being Selectman, &c. a number of years. He died January 1, 
1782, aged sixty-three. 

About the same time (174:2) John Hadley came to Narraganset, 
and settled on lot No. 5. His house Avas situated a little north of 
Mrs. Esty's barn. He was probably the ancestor of the Hadleys 
which were afterwards in Westminster. 

William Baldwin settled on lot No. 14. His residence was a 
few rods south of Mr. Horatio Eagar's. 

David Dunster, of Cambridge, settled about the same time. 
He was a descendant of Henry Dunster, the first President of Har- 
vard College, but the family was never prominent in this place, 
and they have left a very imperfect record. 

Samuel Smith was in the place before 1745, but, like his name- 
sake John, is not easily traced. 

About the same time Daniel AValker, of Sudbury, became a 
settler, and fixed his residence where Mr. Isaac Seaver now resides. 
He had a wife and two children. His wife, who was a sister of 
Deacon Nathan Wood, and one child, died in 1756 ; and he died 
the year following. 

Joseph Horsley was an early settler. He had a wife, and four 
sons and three daughters, born between 1745 and 1761. 

Isaac Stedman was also an early settler. By his Avife, Huldah, 
he had nine children, born between 1738 and 1756, seven of which 
died before 1764. He died 1757. Of the last five settlers, but 
little is known. 

The seven years allowed in the grant for settling sixty families, 
expired June 1, 1741, when not one sixth of that number had 
settled. The Proprietors, fearing that they should be deprived of 
the grant, met at Cambridge, the day following, and levied a tax 
of thirty-three dollars upon each share, to enable them to offer a 
generous bounty to settlers. At this meeting they raised the 
bounty to ninety-eight dollars, and allowed the same to those Avho 
had already settled. This bounty was at first offered to those who 
should settle in one year, but was subsequently extended to ten 
years. 



25 

The settlers, on the fourth of August, 1742, made choice of 
Mr. Ehsha Marsh for their minister. This choice was concurred 
in by the Proprietors, in September of the same year. They fixed 
his sahuy at one hundred and fifty dollars, in addition to the land 
to Avhich he was entitled by the grant. On the 20th of October, 
1742, Kev. Mr. Marsh was publicly ordained to the work of the 
ministry in this place. One of the first settlers,* in a family 
record, with which we have been favored, says : " After the ordina- 
tion of Mr. jNIarsh, the church proceeded to organize itself, and 
chose Joseph Holden first, and Joseph INIiller second Deacon, who 
served in their offices till death put an end to their services." 

Mr. JNIarsh appears to have been a man of considerable talent, 
but of much eccentricity of character, not comporting with what 
was then regarded as ministerial dignity. Soon after his settlement, 
an unpleasant controversy arose between him and his people, which 
ended in his dismission, in 1757. During a large part of this 
period, their relations were any thing but happy. His conduct 
and sayings were laid before the Association, and before Councils, 
which were induced at last to sunder the ties which bound him to 
the Parish. Some of these charges were characteristic of the times. 
One of them was for " stumping one of his church members to 
swop powder-horn strings with him." It was also thought that he 
was heretical ; and hence he was arraigned for being unsound in 
the faith. We find the following charges preferred against him : 

" For saying, that obedience is the condition of salvation." 

" For saying, that he would as soon worship the devil, as wor- 
ship such a being as requires more of his creatures than they are 
able to perform ; and for saying, in the presence of the church, 
that he did not worship such a being ; for it was the devil which 
required more of his creatures than they were able to perform." 

" For saying, that if all that was required of a man, was to 
believe, then the condition of salvation was easy and pleasant to 
fools." 

Whether they failed to prove these serious chai'ges, or whether 
the Association at Lancaster, before which they were brought, 
failed to see heresy in them, is uncertain ; but one thing is sure ; 
they did not dismiss him in 1747, Avhen these charges were pre- 
ferred. 

After Mr. Marsh was dismissed from his pastoral office, he rc- 

* Abncr Iloldcn, Esq. 



26 

mained some years in the township, and filled several secular 
offices. He at length removed to Cheshire County, New Hamp- 
shire, and became Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He 
died in Lancaster, when on a journey. 

From the first settlement of the township, some fears were ap- 
prehended from the Indians, who, in small numbers, were occa- 
sionally seen lurking about the place. But it was not till 1742, or 
'43, that they gave the settlers much uneasiness. Instigated by the 
French, in Canada, these children of the forest began to assume a 
hostile attitude. About 1743, the General Court granted thirteen 
hundred dollars to enable the settlers to erect such fortifications as 
would secure them against the savages. Ten forts were accord- 
ingly erected. These were placed around the dwellings, in differ- 
ent parts of the town, so as to secure, if not every dwelling, at 
least every neighborhood. They were constructed of wood — 
some of them of square timbers, laid one upon another, after the 
manner of a log house, and locked together at the angles ; and. 
others were built with stockades, that is, with timbers standing 
perpendicularly, with one end planted in the earth. 

The fortifications, or garrisons, as they were generally called, 
were distributed about the town as follows : One inclosed Captain 
Hoar's dwelling ; one the house of Rev. Mr. Marsh, which was a 
few rods easterly from the present residence of Mr. George Gibbs ; 
one at Deacon Holden's ; one at Richard Graves's ; one at Seth 
Walker's ; one at Deacon Miller's ; one at Thomas Stearns's ; one 
at Philip Bemis's ; one at the place now known as the Wiswall 
place, then owned by Samuel Hagar, and occupied by a tenant by 
the name of Flagg ; and one at the house of Joseph Gibbs, who 
came early into the town from Sudbury, and located himself in the 
south-easterly part of the town, about half a mile easterly of the 
house now occupied by Mr. Wheeler Benjamin. Besides these, 
there were a few temporary forts, in other parts of the town, some 
to guard dwellings, and some for the protection of laborers, when 
at work far from their houses. 

A few soldiers were sent by the government, and a portion of 
the inhabitants were put under pay as a town scout. A sentinel 
was posted at each fort in the night time, and the soldiers alter- 
nately patrolled the township by day, whenever the enemy were 
supposed to be lurking within their borders. From 1744 to 1749, 
the settlers experienced many discouragements. Savages were fre- 



27 

quently seen prowling about in the woods. At night, the inhabi- 
tants repaired to the garrisons for safety, leaving their own dwell- 
ings to the mercy of the savage foe. By day, the laborers repaired 
to their fields with their muskets, to guard themselves against the 
insidious savage who might ambush their path. 

It is impossible for us, at this day, to enter fully into the feelings 
of people thus circumstanced. If immediate destruction, or what 
is worse, a death by torture, or hopeless captivity, did not actually 
take place, it was constantly haunting their imaginations. Painful 
indeed must be the situation, where the laborer is liable to be 
captured in the field, and his family massacred and scalped in his 
absence ; and where the hours of darkness and repose may invite 
the enemy, and his slumbers may be broken by the sound of the 
war-whoop, and the darkness of night be dispelled by the blaze of 
his dwelling. 

But although the savages gave the settlers much anxiety, no 
one ever fell a prey to the merciless enemy, nor were any battles 
ever fought between them. The only well authenticated incident 
that has come to my knowledge, occurred in 1748 or '49. Wil- 
liam Bowman, from Lexington, who had been in the township 
five or six years, and who garrisoned, if not resided, with Captain 
Hoar, was one day mowing in the field, near the present residence 
of Mr. George Miles, when he discovered some Indians in the ad- 
joining woods. They had placed themselves in such a position as 
to cut him off from his fort, and no doubt felt sure of their victim. 
Bowman very adroitly concealed his agitation of mind, and as 
though he had made no discovery of the enemy, kept at work, but 
moving at the same time from his fort and his insidious enemy, 
until he had gained the declivity of the hill, when he dropped his 
scythe, and made for Graves's fort with such speed as to elude the 
grasp of his fleet-footed pursuers. When he arrived at Graves's 
fort, an alarm was immediately fired, which was answered through 
the settlement, and called every man to his post. The alarm being 
given, messengers were dispatched, which brought troops from 
Lancaster and Rutland. 

The savages, finding that they were discovered, and that prepara- 
tion was making to give them a warm reception, quietly and stealth- 
ily left the place, and so permitted the troops to return to their 
quarters, and the citizens to their employment. Bowman, soon 
after this occurrence, left the place, liaving no desire to continue 



28 

his hand with adversaries trained to every art of guile, and every 
method of torture. This was one of the last incursions of the 
savages. A treaty of peace between France and England, in 
October, 1748, gave rest to the infant settlement. And though 
the war was renewed in 1754, there was but little apprehension 
from the Indians during this last war — the field of action being for 
the most part transferred to the Lakes and the borders of Canada, 
where the Indians acted under the direction of the French officers. 
There were a few incursions into some of the towns on the north, 
but I find no account of their having penetrated as far as West- 
mmster. . On the contrary, some of the citizens of the district 
were detailed for the frontier, and served at the Lakes, as we 
shall have occasion to mention hereafter. 

From 1743 to 1749, the settlement went on slowly. Though a 
bounty of about one hundred dollars was offered by the Proprietors, 
only about nineteen families had settled at the beginning of 1750 ; 
and of these, most had settled before 1743. There were but few 
who came to the place while apprehensions were entertained of 
attacks from the Indians. 

In 1745 or '46, Joshua Child, from Waltham, came to the 
place, and located himself on the farm where Captain Harrington 
now lives. In 1750, the meetings of the Proprietors were trans- 
ferred to the township, where they were ever afterward held. At 
their first meeting, Andrew Darby, then of the place, was chosen 
Proprietor's Clerk — an office which he held for years. 

The halcyon days of peace gave a new spring to their affairs, 
and the settlement went on with considerable rapidity. In 1750, 
as near as can be estimated, the population was a little short of one 
hundred souls. In a petition presented to the Legislature, in 
1759, they say they have nearly sixty families. From a full view 
of the subject, it is highly probable that the population in 1760 
would not vary materially from three hundred. Hence there must 
have been a considerable accession to the settlers during this decen- 
nial period. 

I shall not attempt to state the order in which they came to the 
place, but will mention some of the principal famiUes. I cannot 
better enumerate the substantial men of the district in 1759, than 
to give the names of the citizens who petitioned for the incorpora- 
tion, together with those who constituted the first jury. These 
were the prominent citizens who figured through the Revolution- 



29 

ary period, and who gave tone and character to the place ; and 
the descendants of these famihes constitute a considerable propor- 
tion of the population of Westminster at this day. The petition- 
ers are as follows : 

Abncr Ilolden,* Samuel Whitney, 

John Wheeler, Andrew Darby, 

John Brooks,* Elijah Gibbs, 

Ricliard Baker,* Nathan Wood,* 

Daniel Walker,* Jolni Stearns, 

Nathan Whitney,* Joseph Ilolden, Jr., 

Jonas Wliitney,* William Edgcll,* 

Nathan PoorcJ Richard Graves, 

Seth Harrington,* Joshua Bigelow, 

James Cowee, Josiah Jackson, 

John Rand,* John Woodward,* 

Joseph Holden, Josiah Cutting,* 

Thomas Stearns,* James Winship,* 

David Bemis, Ebenezcr Taylor, 

Joseph Miller, Nathaniel Wheeler, 

James Taylor, Benjamin Horsley. 

If we add to this list those who were selected in 1760 to fill the 
first jury-box, we shall have a list of the principal men in the dis- 
trict at that time. Those petitioners whose names are marked with 
a star, (*) and the following gentlemen, comprise that list. Thomas 
Conant, Nicholas Dike, James Walker, Reuben Miles, John Miles, 
Noah Miles, Philip Bemis, Benjamin Butterfield, Stephen Holden, 
Elisha Bigelow, William Bemis, John Estabrook. 

Andrew Darby, who was several years Selectman and Clerk, 
under the district organization, came from Acton, about 1749 or 
'50. He was probably the father of Andreiv Darby, Jr., who 
married, December 20, 1763, Elizabeth Sawin, and had Abijah, 
Isaac, Asaph, Aaron, Moses, and three daughters, born before 
1787 ; and of John Darby, who married, May 1, 1766, Hannah 
Garey, of Lancaster, and had William, John, Joseph, Abel, An- 
drew, and two daughters, and died 1818 ; and of Nathan Darby, 
who married, March 30, 1763, Abigail Pierce, of Lexington, and 
had Jonas, Ezra, Joel, Abraham, Levi, and six daughters. Andrew 
Dai'by was probably the ancestor of all the Darbys in Westminster. 
He died March 23, 1783, in his seventy-seventh year. 

Josiah Cutting came to No. 2 from Waltham, where he mar- 
ried, March 27, 1755, Lydia Merriam, of Lcxhigton. He was 



30 

married as " of Narraganset." They had John, Josiah, Nathan, 
Asa, Abraham, and three daughters. Abraham Cutting married 
Phebe Howard, and settled in Princeton, where he died. His 
sons returned to Westminster, and settled. Among them was 
Flavel, who was a practicing physician in the place for more than 
twenty years. 

There were several families of Mileses, who settled in West- 
minster before 1759. They came from Concord. Joliii Miles was 
in Concord as early as 1640. He had two sons, John and Samuel. 
John married Mary Prescott, and had among other children, John, 
who married Elizabeth Brooks, and had John, Noah, and Abner, 
all of whom settled in Narraganset. 

John Miles, born 1727, married Martha Warren, a widow, and 
had Levi, John, Isaac, Thomas, and two daughters. He was a 
surveyor, and was often in public office. He died April 30, 1808, 
aged eighty-one. She died April 26, 1808, aged eighty-three. 
Their son John, born in 1765, was for many years a settled clergy- 
man in Grafton, and the father of Kev. Henry A. Miles, D. D., of 
Boston. 

Captain Noah Miles, by his wife Huldah, had Noah, Stephen, 
Joel, Ephraim, and Oliver. He died October 21, 1811, aged 
eighty-one ; and she died March 10, 1809, aged eighty. 

Abner Miles married, 1769, Margaret Trowbridge, of New- 
ton, and had Trowbridge, and three daughters. He died of small 
pox, July 23, 1778. 

Reuben Miles, though from the same stock, was of another 
flimily. We have already said that John Miles, the original settler 
in Concord, had two sons, John and Samuel. Samuel married, 
1706, Sarah Foster, of Littleton, and had among other children, 
Beuben, who settled in Westminster, and by his wife, Anne Rice, 
had Nathan, Reuben, Jonas, Asa, and five daughters. Asa, born 
July 11, 1760, graduated at Dartmouth College, studied medicine, 
and married Elizabeth C. Rice, daughter of Rev. Asaph Rice, of 
Westminster. Dr. Miles practiced in this town. His wife died 
1796, and he married Ruth Henshaw, of Leicester, Februaiy 14, 
1804. He died April, 1805, in his forty-fifth year, and his widow 
married, in 1806, Rev. Ezekiel L. Bascom, of Phillipston. Dr. 
Miles had but one child, Clough Rice, born May 31, 1796. He 
graduated at Harvard College in 1817, read law, and established 
himself at Millbury, where he now resides. 



31 

The Milcscs in town were quite numerous and influential, for a 
long period. 

Deacon Nathan Wood came into the place in June, 175G, 
His ancestor, William Wood, emigrated from England, 1(338, and 
settled at Concord. He died 1671, leaving an only son, JMichael, 
who died three years after his father; and left, among other 
sons, Abraham, who removed into Sudbury, where he died in 
1742 or '47.* He had Samuel, Cornelius, Hannah Avho mar- 
ried Daniel Walker and settled in Narraganset, Rebecca, Ruth, 
Abigail who married Deacon James Walker and settled in Nar- 
i-aganset, and Nathan. Nathan, the youngest son of Abraham, 
Avas born in Concord, March 24, 1723, where his father resided till 
about 1729, when he removed to Sudbury. Nathan Wood, then 
of Sudbury, married, March 2, 1750, Rebecca, daughter of Ahijah 
Haynes, of that place. Soon after his marriage, he settled at 
StOAv, where he resided till 1756, when he removed to this place 
with his family, consisting at that time, of one daughter and three 
sons. He had fifteen children, all of whom were living at the time 
of his death, June 17, 1777, and able to follow him to the grave. 
After his death, in his fifty-fifth year, his widow married Nathan 
Howard, with whom she lived more than forty years, and died 
March 20, 1819, aged eighty-seven. The size, longevity and 
prominence of this family, will justify the following full account of 
them. 

1. Lucy, born April 10, 1751 ; married, January G, 1774, Benjamin 
Barnard, and died, aged 98. 

2. Nathan, born November 7, 1752 ; was twice married, and died 
January 1, 1841, aged 88. 

3. Ahijah, born February 15, 1754 ; was twice married, had eleven 
children, and died July 24, 1810, aged 8G. 

4. Abel, born December 27, 1755; married, November 21, 1780, 
Phebe Holden, and had nine children. He was a prominent citizen, filled 
various town offices, and was many years a Justice of the Peace. He 
died March 23, 184G, aged 90. 

5. Rebecca, born December 5, 1757 ; married, December 2G, 1780, 
Levi Graves, and died May 8, 1795, aged 37. 

G. Hannah, born April 4, 1759 ; married, 1780, Stephen Hoar, and 
died October 24, 1831, aged 72. 

7. Samuel, born January 26, 17G1 ; died October 28, 1828, aged G7. 

* There were two Abraham "Woods, that died in Sudbury ; one in 171'2, and 
the other in 1747. 



32 

8. Moses, ) ^^^^ October 18, 1763, drowned December 11, 

> twins, 1777, aged 15. 

9. Aaron, j born October 19, 1763, died July 4, 1815, aged o3. 

10. Abraham, born August 2, 1764; died December 8, 1812, aged 48. 

11. Israel, born March 15, 1766, died September 26, 1846, aged 80. 

12. Ruth, born June 1, 1768, died February 2, 1820, aged 52. 

13. Abigail, born June 9, 1770, now living and insane, aged 90. 

14. Ezekiel, born November 25, 1772; died May 30, 1812, aged 40. 

15. Nahum, born April 5, 1776 ; died July 3, 1825, aged 49. 

This family, remarkable for numbers, were also remarkable for 
age. The aggregate age of the family, including the parents, 
is 1,106 years. The Wood family have been one of the most 
influential and popular in the place, both in church and state. 

John Estabrook was in Narraganset in 1755. He married 
about that time, and by his wife, Anna Bemis, who died in 
Westminster, 1832, aged ninety-two, he had fourteen children; 
John, Joseph, Isaac, Samuel (killed by lightning), Thomas, Joseph, 
Isaac, Samuel, and six daughters. Their first Joseph and Isaac 
died in 1772. John was the ancestor of the Westminster Esta- 
brooks. The original emigrant, Joseph Estabrook, came to the 
country in 1660, was settled as a clergyman in Concord, 1667. 
His son Joseph settled in Hingham, and removed to Lexington 
about 1709. He had a son John, born 1690, who married Pru- 
dence Harrington. John, who settled in Westminster, was their 
oldest son, and was born October 20, 1729. 

John Rand was in Narraganset in 1753. His first wife, 
Elizabeth, died December 14, 1756, and he married, 1766, widow 
Tabitha Stedman. He had Zachariah, John, Thomas, William, 
Samuel, and four daughters. He was the ancestor of those of the 
name in Westminster. He sustained important town offices, and 
rose to the rank of Colonel in the militia. He also served as 
Colonel in the Eevolution, He died December 11, 1789, in the 
sixty-seventh year of his age. The stone erected to his first wife 
and two children, who died about the same time, is among the 
oldest in the grave-yard. 

Hananiah Eand was in Westminster about the same time. 
He is said to have been a brother of John. He came to West- 
minster from Lancaster. 

John Woodward was in the place, 1754. It appears by the 
record of his family, that John and Nathaniel, his two oldest chil- 



33 

dren, were born 1741, and 1743, in Tewksbury ; the two next In 
Nottingham ; and his fifth child was born in Narraganset, in 1753. 
From this fact it appears that he came to this phice from Notting- 
ham. From Nathaniel, the Westminster families descended. John 
Woodward was Adjutant in Colonel Doolittle's regiment of eight 
months' men, in the Revolution. 

James and Ebenezer Taylor were in town about the same 
time, but they have left no record of their families. It is probable 
that Asa Taylor, who married, 17G8, Sarah Williams, and had 
John W., Charles, Ebenezer, and Asa ; and Joseph, Samuel, and 
Ezra Taylor, were their descendants. 

Thomas Conant came to the township about the same time, 
and probably had a family, as we find in due time Thomas Conant, 
Jr. ; but he has left no family record. 

Nicholas Dike came to the place probably about the same time. 
According to the record, he had but three children born in Narra- 
ganset ; Mary, born 1757 ; Nicholas, born 1760 ; and Samuel, 
born 1763. He died July 29, 1812, aged ninety, and hence was 
born 1722. He was for a long period among the prominent and 
influential men of the place, filling, for a number of years, the first 
offices in the gift of the people. He was also one of the principal 
magistrates of the town, and held a commission as Colonel. He 
came from Beverly. 

Richard Baker was in the place as a citizen before 1759. By 
his wife Mary, he had Jonadab, born 1759; Thomas, born 1761; 
Joanna, born 1763 ; Manasseh, born 1765 ; Bezaleel, born 1768 ; 
John, born 1770 ; Luke, born 1772 ; Judith, born 1774, and Joel, 
born 1777. He died December 13, 1808, aged eighty, and she 
died August 1, 1813, aged seventy-eight. He was a member of the 
first list of Jurors in the District. He came from Lancaster. His 
wife was Mary Sawyer, grand-daughter of Thomas Sawyer, who 
was captured by the Indians, 1705, and carried to Canada, where 
he built the first Saw Mill in that country, and so obtained his 
freedom. 

William Edgell was in the place in 1759, and petitioned for 
the Act of Incorporation. By his wife Eleanor, he had Joseph, 
William, and Samuel, and two daughters, born between 1754 and 
1762. William Edgell was frequently elected to town office, and 
commanded a company in the Revolutionary service, in Colonel 
Stearns's regiment. 



34 

John Edgell, probably brother to William, married, in 1762, 
Eebecca Winship, of Lexington, and had Ephraim, John, Levi, 
and two daughters. 

JosiAH Jackson was in Narraganset before 1759, and by the 
record, had Oliver and Isaac, and five daughters, born before 1772. 
He was born April 23, 1730, and his brothers were born, Elisha, 
February 12, 1737, and Edward, September 3, 1739, both of 
whom settled in Westminster. Elisha had Sullivan, Elisha, Josiah, 
and Ebenezer ; and Edward had John, Oliver, Edward, Joseph, 
and Josiah. They were sons of Isaac Jackson, of Newton, who by 
Will, in 1765, gave them land in Westminster. Isaac was son of 
Edward, who was son of Sabus, (or Seaborn,) who it was said was 
born on the passage from England, about 164-1. 

Nathan Whitney, born March 12, 1727, and Jonas, born 
June 25, 1733, sons of Ensign David Whitney, of Waltham, and 
distant relatives of Lieutenant Samuel Whitney, who previously 
settled here, came to No. 2, before 1756. Nathan, by his wife, 
Tabitha Merriam, of Lexington, had Nathan, David, and John, 
born in 1765, 1767, and 1769, beside six other children who died 
young. Of these, Nathan married, 1786, Eunice Puffer, and 
had Nathan, Leonard, and other sons who died young. Nathan 
first, died August 10, 1803, aged seventy-seven, Nathan second, 
died February 14, 1851, aged eighty-seven, and Nathan third, 
died December 10, 1831, aged forty. David married, November 
25, 1791, Elizabeth Barnes, of Princeton, and had David, Aaron, 
Reuben P., Isaac, Calvin, and five daughters. John married, 
1793, Elizabeth Stearns, and had John, born 1797. 

Jonas Whitney married, September 27, 1757, Sarah Whitte- 
more, of Lexington, and had Jonas, Joel, Benjamin, and one daugh- 
ter. Jonas married, 1785, Elizabeth Raymond, of Princeton, and 
had Joseph, Charles, Jonas, Harrison G., and six daughters. Joel 
married, first, Lucy Holden, and second, widow Abigail Merriam, 
daughter of Abner Holden, and had Joseph H., Horace, Theodore, 
and four daughters. The Whitneys in Westminster have been 
quite influential, and so numerous, and so attached to the military, 
that it has been said, sportively, that it would be safe for a stranger 
coming into town to salute every third man he met, with the title 
and name of " Captain Whitney." 

Seth Harrington was probably son of George Harrington, and 
was born June, 1725. He married, first, Abigail , who died 



85 

1759 ; and second, 1700, rHscilla Iloughton, of Lancaster, and 
had Elisha, born 1754 ; Sctli, born 1756 ; Daniel, born 1758 ; 
Benjamin, born 1769 ; and four daughters. Seth Harrington was 
probably the ancestor of most, if not all the Harringtons in West- 
minster. 

John Brooks, by his wife Eunice, had John, Levi, Asa. Saise- 
UEL, who married Huldah Miles, had Oliver, and died 1810 ; 
Ezra, who married Rebecca Temiile, had Ezra, John, Charles, Asa, 
and five daughters, and died Sept. 14, 1843, aged seventy-five. 

Jonas Winship came from Cambridge, and was a descendant of 
Lieutenant Edward Winship, one of the first settlers of Cambridge, 
and the ancestor of most, if not all of that name in New England. 
Jonas AVinship, by his wife Mary, had ten children, six daughters 
and four sons, among whom were Jonas and Cyrus, both of whom 
settled in Westminster, and had large families. 

James Cohee, by his wife Mary, had John, David, James, Na- 
than, Joel, Pearson, and five daughters, born between 1758 and 
1776. He was the ancestor of the fomilies in Westminster which 
bore his name. He came from Ireland when a lad of fifteen or 
sixteen, and sold himself (as was not very uncommon at that day) 
for a limited period, to pay his passage over. 

James Walker, from Sudbury, was here as early as 1755. 
He married Abigail Wood, sister of Deacon Nathan Wood, and 
had eight children, most of whom died young. He was a Deacon 
of the church, and somewhat prominent in the town. 

In 1756-7, an epidemic prevailed in the place, and proved very 
fatal, especially among children. 

On the 20th of October, 1759, Nan-aganset No. 2 was incor- 
porated into a District, by the name of Westminster. At their 
first meeting, held on the 19th of November of that year. Deacon 
Joseph Miller was chosen Clerk ; Joseph Miller, Captain Daniel 
Hoar, Andrew Darby, Ensign Richard Graves, and Lieutenant 
Samuel Whitney, Selectmen ; Daniel Hoar, Joseph Miller, and 
Andrew Darby, Assessors ; Joseph Ilolden, Jr., Treasurer ; and 
William Bemis, Thomas Conant, and Josiah Cutting, Tythingmen. 
The place being incorporated as a District, with all the powers 
of a Town, except that of sending a Representative to the General 
Court, the people entered at once upon the consideration of what 
were then regarded as the essential institutions of every town — a 
-School House, a Pound, Stocks, and a supply of ammunition. 



36 

The Schools were provided for, the Pound was constructed, but 
the Stocks were, for the time being, ignored. Their attention was 
early called to the laying out of highways, to accommodate the 
inhabitants. But in the multiplicity of their cares, they did not 
neglect matters of dignity and taste. At a meeting held June 7, 
1762, Richard Graves, Nathan Wood, and John Rand, were 
chosen a Committee to perform what was at that day regarded as a 
very important, but rather delicate duty, viz., " to dignify and seat 
the Meeting-house, according to rate and age." The Meeting- 
house having been seated, according to the prescribed rules, the 
people agreed to sustain this dignity by providing Stocks for the 
punishment of offenders. 

In 1764, the district was visited by one of the most fatal epi- 
demics which had ever afflicted the place. Almost every family 
was called to mourning. Mr. Isaac Stedman lost three children ; 
Captain Nathan Whitney, four ; Mr. Stephen Calf, four ; and 
Deacon James Walker, two. The disease was the scarlatina, or 
canker-rash, and was peculiarly fatal among children. This sick- 
ness, and that which prevailed in 1756, were the most alarming 
of any that ever afflicted the township. But such diseases are 
incident to all new countries. The clearing up of new lands, and 
the letting in of the sun upon decayed vegetable matter, generally 
fill the atmosphere with a miasma which is deleterious to health. 

From the dismission of Mr. Marsh, in 1757, to the settlement 
of Mr. Bice, in 1765, the church and society were in a broken and 
distracted state. They had preaching the greater part of the time, 
but they were troubled with divisions. In 1760, they extended a 
call to Mr. Samuel Dix, but he declining it, a call was subsequently 
extended to Messrs. Peter T. Smith, Samuel French, and John 
Wythe. Each in his turn declined the office, though Mr. Wythe 
supplied the desk for some time. The feeble state of the society, 
and the unfortunate controversies with Mr. Marsh, which continued 
after his dismission, undoubtedly had their influence in inducing 
these gentlemen to decline a settlement. At length, at a meeting 
held July 19, 1765, the Parish voted to concur with the Church in 
extending an invitation to Bev. Asaph Bice, to become their pas- 
tor. Mr. Bice having accepted the call, the 16th of October of the 
same year was fixed upon for his ordination, when he took upon 
himself the solemn duties of Pastor of the Church of Christ in 
Westminster. The district gave him £133 6s. 8d. as a settlement. 



37 

£66 13s. 4tl., Avith thirty cords of Nvood, as an annual salary. Rev. 
Eli Forbes, of Brookfiekl, preached the sermon, from 1 Cor. ii. 2. 

]Mr, nice was son of Beriah llice, of Westborough, a descendant 
of Edmund Rice, an original emigrant, who settled first at Sud- 
bury, and afterwards at Marlborough. He was born May 9, 
1733, and was gi-aduated at Harvard College, 1752. He studied 
medicine and practiced a short time in Brookfiekl ; but having 
his right wrist broken by his horse falling with him, he was in- 
duced to quit his profession, and qualify himself for the ministry. 
Before his settlement in Westminster, he hacl spent about two years 
as a missionary among the Indians at the Oneida Plantations, on 
the Susquehanna. Losing his right hand, he was compelled to 
write with his left ; and specimens of his penmanship show that he 
acquired considerable skill in writing in that manner. 

Mr. Eice married, December 26, 1765, JSIary Morse, of Boyls- 
ton, daughter of Rev. Ebenezer Morse. She died in childbed, in 
1766, in her twentieth year, and he married Lucy Clough. She 
died, and he married as his third wife, Lucy Shattuck, widow of 
Benjamin Shattuck, physician, of Templeton. She survived her 
last husband about five years, and died at Templeton, 1821. His 
children "s^ere, 

1. Persis, born November, 17G6 ; married Silas Beaman. 

2. Elizabeth C, born 1771 ; married Doctor Asa Miles. 

3. Thomas, born 1774 ; married Mary Eames, of Boston. lie was a 
merchant in Boston for some years, and then removed to Galena, Illinois. 

4. Asaph, born 1775 ; died in infancy. 

5. Asaph, born February 17, 1777 ; entered Harvard College, 1798 ; 
left, 1799 ; married Abigail Sawyer, of Bolton, and settled first at Thet- 
ford, Vermont, moved to Orford, New Hampshire, then to Lcvviston, 
Illinois. 

6. Mary, born June, 1778 ; married Jacob Sawyer. 

7. Thankful, born 1780 ; married Farwell Jones. 

Mr. Rice continued his relation with the church and society till 
the close of his life. He died March 31, 1816, in the eighty-third 
year of his age, and the fifty-first of his ministry. 

Nothing of special moment transpired while the place remained 
under the district organization. The last French war gave the 
people no great uneasiness ; and being but a small settlement, just 
emerging from a state of danger, they did not furnish many troops 



38 

to prosecute the war upon the frontier. There is, however, a 
tradition to the following effect. 

In the call for men in 1758, Richard Baker, William Edgell, 
Thomas Dunster, and perhaps others, entered the service for one 
year. They marched first to Albany, then to Lake George. At 
the expiration of their term, the officer in command refused to 
discharge them. Whereupon they resolved to return home, 
regardless of consequences. It was in the midst of winter, and 
the ground was covered with snow to a great depth. They made 
themselves snow-shoes, with strips of hide from the dead horses, 
and made other preparations for their departure. A council of 
officers was held, which decided that the Company thus resolved to 
leave, should the next day, be put under guard. This decision of 
the council having been privately made known to them, they were 
determined to avoid that humiliation, and before roll-call the next 
morning, they took their departure, with such provisions as they 
could lay their hands upon, to return to Massachusetts. Their 
w^ay lay through a trackless waste, and over the Green Mountain 
range. They lost their way in the forest, but at length found one 
of the head branches of Deerfield river, which they followed, and 
on the ninth day arrived at Coleraine. The party consisted of 
nearly a whole company, from Westminster and other towns. 

During this march, they suffered almost incredibly from the 
depth of the snow, the severity of the weather, and the want of 
provisions. For days they were without food. Falling in with 
a dog, they killed him, which served them for a meal. It was 
said that, at one time, they resolved to cast lots to see who should 
be slain, to save the rest from starvation. But some fortunate 
circumstance saved them from that dire necessity, and the whole 
party at length got safely to Massachusetts. 

The population, from 1760 to 1770, increased with considerable 
rapidity. Most of those Avho came into the place between 1750 
and 1770, had families, and the natural increase was very consid- 
erable ; besides, several families came into the town during this 
decade. 

Jonathan Broivn from Lancaster, the father of Jonathan, Benja- 
min, Joseph and John : Josiah Puffer from Sudbury, the father of 
Samuel and Asahel ; John Foskett, the ancestor of those of that 
name in town, from Bolton ; Timothy Fessenden from Lexington, 
the father of a numerous family ; Joseph Spaulding from Chelms- 



39 

ford, the father of Jesse, Mirari, Joseph and Zebina ; Joshua Everett 
from Attleborough, and Pelatiah Everett from Wrenthani ; Ste- 
phen Saivin from Worcester, with his sons, Jonathan, David, Sam- 
uel, Eeubcn, and James then an infant, who died 1859, aged 
ninetv-eight ; Nathaniel Saivyer from Reading, and Jonathan 
Sawyer, probably from the same place ; Thomas Merriam from Lex- 
ington, the father of Asa and others ; Samuel Merriam from the 
same place, brother of Thomas, and father of Nathan and others ; 
Nathan Fierce from Lexington, ancestor of the Pierces ; Jonathan 
Raymond from Lexington, father of Joiiathan, John, Joseph, Isaac, 
Ebenezer, and Nathan ; Nathan Hoioard from Maiden, father of 
Nathan and Joseph; Dr. Zachariah Harvey from Princeton, 
Michael Gill, and several other families, came to the place, so that 
the population in the period of ten years more than doubled — 
bringing it up to about 680 in 1770. 

A prospect more flattering than they had before enjoyed, now 
opened upon them, and comparative prosperity ensued. The 
troublesome question " of dignifying and seating the INIeeting- 
house," M'hich was before the people in 1762, came up subse- 
quently, and a Committee was appointed to do it, " according to 
real and personal estates, and having reference to age and honor.'' 

In 1768, a Resolve was passed unanimously, which shows the 
spirit of the times, and reflects honor upon the memory of our 
fathers — a Resolve which, abating the grammar, might with great 
propriety be le-resolved in these days of idleness and extravagance. 
We will give it verbatim. 

"The District of Westminster, taking into consideration the 
sinking state of the Province, arising through the manifold extrav- 
agances of the inhabitants ; in the great neglect of industry, and the 
still greater increase of our misery in the extravagant expense of 
its inhabitants, in the purchase of superfluities ; and are fully sensi- 
ble of the absolute necessity of industry and frugality, in order to 
save us from impending woe, to save our wealth, and to place us 
in a state of independency ; do cheerfully and unanimously vote 
and resolve, that from and after the first day of April next, we will 
not purchase any superfluities, and that we will take every proper 
method within our power to encourage industry and manufactory 
within the District ; for we are fully sensible that idleness has a 
natural tendency to impoverish any community, and when attended 
with extravagancy, brings immediate ruin, will therefore by all 



40 

possible and lawful means, take every method within our power to 
encourage industry among ourselves, and take this opportunity to 
give it in direction to our Selectmen, to take special care that all 
idle persons among us, be kept to some lawful business, and that 
the laws of the Province in that regard be duly observed." 

We may smile at the simplicity of our fathers, but such Resolu- 
tions as the above did a great deal toward producing a controlling 
public sentiment of economy and self-sacrifice, which enabled the 
Colonies to carry on the war which they had reason to fear was 
approaching. 

In 1770, on the 26th of April, the District of Westminster was 
erected into a Town, by an Act of the Legislature. We now 
arrive at a period in which the encroachments of Great Britain 
became the absorbing theme. And though we could not expect 
that a small town in the interior, would take a leading part in the 
controversies of that day, we find that they were ready to respond 
to any call made upon them. On the 11th of February, 1773, in 
response to the call of the Committee of Correspondence of Bos- 
ton, they say, " We shall at all times heartily join with them, 
(the people of Boston,) in all legal constitutional measures for the 
recovery of those inestimable rights and privileges wrested from us, 
and for securing those that remain ; for we are sensible, that should 
we renounce our liberty, we should renounce the quality of men, 
the rights of humanity, and even our duty to God and man." 

In December, 1774, they passed a vote forbidding the Constables 
to pay the money collected on the Province tax to the royal Treas- 
urer appointed by the Governor, and directing them to pay it over 
to the Treasurer appointed by the Provincial Congress. They also 
voted that they would adopt the recommendations of the Conti- 
nental and Provincial Congresses, and thus put themselves in a 
position to maintain and defend their rights. They subsequently 
voted that they would support their due proportion of the poor of 
Boston, who were reduced to penury by the shutting up of that 
port. 

In the mean time, the people of Westminster were careful to be 
represented in the Provincial Congresses by some of their best, 
most patriotic, and reliable men. Deacon Nathan Wood, and 
Abner Holden, Esq., were elected to the first Provincial Con- 
gress, and Deacon Wood to the second and third. 

On the 10th of June, 1776, at a meeting called for that purpose. 



41 

it was voted unanimously, that if the Continental Congress should 
declare the Colonies independent of Great Britain, " they would 
stand by and support them in the measure with their lives and 
fortunes." 

Such was the spirit Avhich actuated the inhabitants of this town 
during that eventful struggle. It may appear small for a town like 
Westminster, at that period, to pass resolves on subjects of a na- 
tional character ; but it was in fact in these little E-epublics, that 
the seeds of liberty were sown. 

The importance of Town Meetings, at that time, cannot be over- 
rated. In the darkest day of the period immediately preceding the 
breaking out of hostilities, when the Royal Governor had prorogued 
the Legislature, and refused to order a new election ; when an 
armed force was stationed in Boston, to overawe the patriots, and 
the people had no organized medium of communication with each 
other ; that master spirit of liberty, Samuel Adams, who did more 
to organize the American Revolution than any other man, called 
upon the good people of Boston to assemble in Town Meeting, to 
consult upon all they held dear as citizens. And it was in a Boston 
Town Meeting, that Committees of Correspondence were suggested, 
and organized. In pursuance of this proposed organization, the 
towns throughout the Colony held their public meetings, at which 
Committees of Correspondence were chosen, patriotic Resolutions 
passed, and mutual pledges interchanged, which produced unity of 
action, created and embodied public sentiment, and fitted the people 
for the great struggle which was impending. 

No one measure contributed more to warm the patriot heart, or 
nerve the patriot arm, than these primary meetings of the people. 
The effect was felt and acknowledged by the Colonists. The influ- 
ence thus exerted, was so great and controlling, that the British 
ministry became alarmed, and Parliament passed a solemn Act for- 
bidding all Town Meetings, except the annual meeting for the 
choice of town officers. But such was the devotion of the people 
to these primary meetings, that in the interior they paid no atten- 
tion to the law, and in some of the larger towns, they evaded 
it, by adjourning their annual meetings, from time to time, so that 
they might be prepared, at almost any moment, to come together 
to consult upon matters of public safety. Conceiving the privilege 
of assembling to deliberate in this manner so important, they 
actually made the Act prohibiting Town Meetings, one of the 
6 



42 

prominent charges against Great Britain, and urged it as one of the 
causes for resorting to arms. If there is any one thing which has 
given to Faneuil Hall its notoriety, and has secured to it the glori- 
ous appellation of " The Cradle of Liberty," it is the fact, that here 
the patriots of Boston met in Town Meeting, and adopted measures, 
and passed resolutions in defence of their liberties — measures and 
resolutions which enkindled the fires of patriotism in America and 
shook the kingdom of Great Britain to its very centre. Let no one 
then speak disparagingly of these little democratic gatherings, 
where the pure and unsophisticated sentiments of freemen were 
faithfully expressed, and where the true sentiments of the people 
were fully reflected. 

The history of those times shows, that these resolutions, adopted 
by the towns, were not empty boasts. Westminster assured Sam- 
uel Adams, then and always the leader of the Boston Committee 
of Correspondence, that they would join them in defence of their 
liberties, whenever an occasion should present itself. And on the 
19th of April, 1775, on hearing of the march of the British troops, 
and of their outrage at Lexington, the Westminster . companies, 
commanded by Captain Elisha Jackson, Captain John Estabrook, 
and Captain Noah Miles, immediately marched for the scene of 
action, with more than fifty men. And though from their distance, 
they did not arrive in season to join in the affiiirs of that day, they 
marched to Cambridge, which was at once made the head-quarters 
of the Provincial troops, where they remained eight or ten days, 
till the alarm had subsided. 

The following is the list of Captain Jackson's men, who marched 
to Cambridge on that occasion : 

Elisha Jackson, Captain. Jonathan Bancroft, 

John Hoar, Lieutenant. Joseph Holland, 

Amariah Rand, Sergeant. John Matthews, 

Joshua Everett, " Andrew Darby, 

John Glazier, " Elisha Big-elow, 

Joseph Beard, Corporal. Ebenezer Eaton, 

Isaac Williams, " Darins Sawyer, 

Nath. Eaton, Paul Sawyer, 

John Pierce, Reuben Miles, 

Asa Taft, John Bigelow, 

Jonathan Child, Zachariah Willis, 

James Bowers, Amos Springf. 
Samuel Foster, 



43 



The following is a list of Captain Estabrook's men, who also 
marched to Cambiidsre : 



John Estabrook, Captain. 

William Edgoll, Lieutenant. 

Nathan Howard, 

Jabez Bigelow, 

John Brown, 

James Cooper, 

Nathaniel Wheeler, 

David Child, 

Thomas Bemis, 

David Pratt, 

Edmund Wilson, 

Moses Seaver, 

Barron Brown, 



Edward Jackson, 
Asa Ray, 
Samuel Warren, 
Silas Whitney, 
John Goodale, 
Lovell Brooks, 
Nathaniel Kezor, 
John Cowry, 
Josiah Wheeler, Jr., 
Elias Stearns, 
Nathan Pierce, 
Joshua Millins, 
Eli Keyes. 



The following is a list of Captain Noah Miles's Company, which 



also marched to Cambridge ; 

Noah Miles, Captain. 
Samuel Sawin, Lieutenant. 
James Clark, Ensign. 
Norman Seaver, Sergeant. 
William Bickford, " 
Josiah Puffer, " 

Ephraim Miller, " 

Edward Bcaman, Corporal. 
Bezaleel Holt, " 

Silas Holt, Fifer. 
Josiah Jackson, 
Nathan Davis, 
David Bemis, 
Benjamin Barnard, 
Zaccheus Bemis, 
John Ball, 
Jonathan Graves, 
Samuel Whitney, 
Samuel Houghton, 
Isaac Russell, 



Solomon Garfield, 
Peter Graves, 
Josiah Hadley, 
William Howley, 
Jonathan Hager, 
Noah Miles, Jr., 
Nathan Miles, 
Levi Miles, 
William Murdock, 
Jonas Sawin, 
Ahijah Wood, 
Nathan Wood, Jr., 
Ephraim Wetherbee, 
John White, 
Andrew Beard, 
Joel Miles, 
John Darby, 
Elijah Hadley, 
Aaron Bolton. 



More or less of the Westminster men were in each and every 
campaign during the war. From the imperfect rolls, I have been 
able to glean a partial list, which I think will compare well with 
other towns of its size. Few towns of eight hundred inhabitants 
furnished, I venture to say, more men in the Revolution. 



44 



Though the companies which turned out on the Lexington 
alarm, did not, as such, enHst into the army, Westminster fur- 
nished a goodly number who enlisted into the eight months' ser- 
vice, immediately after ; as the following roll will show : 



Edmund Bemis, Captain. 
John Hoar, Lieutenant. 
David Foster, 2d " 
Jedediah Tucker, Sergeant. 
Jacob Walton, " 

Ephraim Hall, " 

Isaac Williams, " 

Abraham Stone, Corporal. 
Thomas Knower, " 
Ebenezer Bolton, " 
William Houghton, " 
Joel Adams, 
Joseph Beard, 
Barron Brown, 
Abner Bemis, 
James Bowers, 
Thomas Farnsworth, 
John Bears, 
Samuel Child, 
Jonathan Child, 
Paul Sawyer, 
Israel Walton, 
Edward Wilson, 
Nehemiah Bowers, 
John Brown, 
Joseph Corrender, 
Aaron Cleveland, 
Henry J. Dunster, 



William Everett, 

John Fessenden, 

Peletiah Everett, 

Zachariah Harvey, 

Aaron Hill, 

Eli Keyes, 

Reuben Miles (died in service), 

Alpheus Newton, 

Ziphron Newton, 

William Parker, 

Nathan Peirce, 

William Putnam, 

Joel Miles, 

Zachariah Rand, 

Samuel Seaver, 

Charles Reed, 

Elijah Simonds, 

Benjamin Seaver, 

John Snow, 

Amos Spring, 

Ahijah Wood, 

Zachariah Willis, 

Joseph Robbing, 

John Wells, 

John Bemis, 

Isaac Child, 

Isaac Miller. 



There were also, in the eight months' service from Westminster, 
in Capt. Wood's company, Col. Sargeant's regiment : 



Nathaniel Doubleday, Lieutenant. 
Uriah Carpenter, Sergeant. 
William Crook, 
James Croford, 
Nehemiah Chase, 
Abner Wise, 



Levi Fuller, 
James Ide, 
Seth Rowe, 
Zachariah Tarbell, 
Zachariah Tarbell, Jr., 
Joshua Wells. 



At the alarm at the Bennington fight, in August, 1777, the fol- 
lowing men marched from Westminster, and were in service ten 
days: 



45 



Elisha Jackson, Captain. 
Samuel Sawin, Lieutenant. 
Jabez Bigelow, " 

Edward Bacon, Sergeant. 
Jonatlian Sawyer, " 
Josiah Wheeler, " 
Stephen Calf, 
Nathan Wetherbee, 
Stephen Moor, 
Thomas Knower, 
Zachariah Rand, 
David Bemis, 
Joshua Bigelow, 
Zachariah Bemis, 
John Hoar, 
Ephraim Hall, 
Silas Holt, 
Josiah Jackson, 
Edward Jackson, 
Noah Miles, 
Nathan Miles, 
Asa Ray, 
Reuben Sawin, 
Asa Taylor, 
Nathan Wood, 



Jonathan Brown, 
Isaac Brooks, 
Thomas Bemis, 
Ebenezer Bolton, 
Levi Brooks, 
Ephraim Bigolow, 
James Clark, 
David Come, 
Jedediah Cooper, 
John Edgell, 
Samuel Foster, 
Amos Gates, 
John Glazier, 
Peter Graves, 
Jonathan Hager, 
Joseph Holden, 
Stephen Holden, 
Isaac Miller, 
Joel Miles, 
Samuel INIerriam, 
Joseph Perry, 
Elijah Simonds, 
Jude Sawyer, 
Abel Wood. 



To reinforce the army at Bennington, in September, 1777, 
Westminster sent the following, who were out twenty-seven days : 



Elisha Jackson, Captain. 
Samuel Sawin, Lieutenant. 
Jabez Bigelow, " 

Edward Bacon, Sergeant. 
William Bickford, " 
Hannaniah Rand, " 
Edmund Beaman, Corporal. 
Stephen Miles, " 

John Edgell, " 

Solomon Garfield, " 
Levi Graves, " 

Joshua Bigelow, 
Levi Brooks, 
Joshua Bemis, 
Josiah Puffer, 
Nathan Parmeter, 
Nathaniel Wilson, 
Abel Wood, 



James Clark, 
Stephen Calf, 
Amos Conant, 
Josiah Conant, 
John Cutting, 
Nathan Darby, 
Andrew Darby, 
Samuel Fessenden, 
Josiah Hadley, 
Stephen Holden, 
Edward Jackson, 
Thomas LaAvs, 
Abner Miles, 
Jonathan Raymond, 
Abner Sawin, 
James Webber, 
Isaac Williams, 
Samuel Wood. 



46 

The several lists which follow, are very imperfect ; they have 
been selected from dilapidated rolls, and some names, undoubtedly, 
have been overlooked. Many of the rolls do not give the town to 
which the soldier belonged ; and hence some must have been 
omitted in these lists. 

The following men from Westminster, were in service in Rhode 
Island, in 1777 : 

Hannaniah Rand, Elisha Whitney, 

Moses Seaver, Nathaniel Wheeler, 

Phinehas Whitney, Ephraim Miles, 

Joel Miles, Jonas Whitney. 

Men from Westminster, raised for one year from January 1, 
1778, and served in Captain Elisha Jackson's company : 

Benjamin Treadway, Elijah Bemis, (died in service,) 

Zachariah Harvey, Nathan Lewis, 

Men in three months' service, 1779, Captain Pratt's company: 
Samuel Brooks, Abner Sawin. 

Men in the expedition to Rhode Island, 1779 : 
Asa Brooks, Isaac Seaver. 

The six months' men from Westminster, raised to reinforce the 
Continental Army under a Resolve passed June, 1780 : 

Abel Pearce, Richard Everett, 

George Stone, Charles Hendrick, 

Nicholas Dike, Jr., Jonas Darby, 

Isaac Puffer, Samuel Gibbs, 

William Sartcher, Isaac Seaver. 

In the nine months' men in 1780, from this town, were Josiah 
Bliss, in the tenth Massachusetts regiment, and Ebenezer Putnam, 
in the seventh Massachusetts regiment. 

In Captain Sibley's company, raised under the Act of June 30, 
1781, Westminster furnished: 

Jonadab Baker, Richard Everett, 

Samuel Hoar, Isaac Dupee, 

John Cohee, George Stone. 
James Cohee, 



47 

In the three years' men raised under Resolve of December 2, 
1780, were : 

Silas Holt, Isaiah Taylor, 

Savage Taylor, Amos Kimball, 

Samuel Merrifield, Grant Powers, 

Jonathan Harvey, John Atwell, 

Jonathan Stedman, Benjamin Treadway, 

Elijah Gibbs, Natlianiel Pattin. 

In the regular army were the following, who served the periods 
set against their names in months : 



James Bowers, 


3G mo. 


Barron Brown, 


46 mo 


John Ball, 


36 


Joseph Bailey, 


15 


Abel Pierce, 


36 


Timothy Crystal, 


12 


George Stone, 


36 


Peletiah Everett, 


4 


Gideon Stanby, 


36 


Nathan Green, 


36 


Asa Wesson, 


36 


Samuel Hunt, 


2(» 


Eli Keyes, 


47 


Nathan Pierce, 


37 


Zipron Newton, 


37 


Amos Spring, 


4 


William Putnam, 


36 


Nathan Woodward, 


36 


Daniel Smitii, 


14 


Henry Talburst, deserted 


30 



Besides this long and formidable list, there were, in different 
regiments and companies, the following Westminster men: Norman 
Seaver and Moses Seaver, stationed in Rhode Island twelve months, 
Jonathan W. Smith, Joshua Mellen, John Abby. 

John "Woodward was Adjutant in Colonel Doolittle's regiment 
of eight months' men. 

Colonel John Rand Avas in service three months, in command of 
a regiment from Worcester County.* 

While engaged in the Revolutionary struggle, the people of 
Massachusetts felt the necessity of forming a Constitution of Gov- 
ernment, for the better managing of their own affairs. In 1778, 
a Constitution was formed, and submitted to the people for their 
acceptance or rejection. The citizens of AVestminster voted unani- 
mously against it. It seems due to their memories to state some of 
the principal exceptions which they took to this proposed Constitu- 
tion. " It is our opinion," they say, " that no Constitution what- 
ever ought to be established, till previously thereto a Bill of Rights 
be set forth ; and the Constitution be framed therefrom — so that 

* I have generally adopted the orthography of the names as I find thcni on 
the rolls. 



48 

the lowest capacity may be able to determine his natural rights, and 
judge of the equitableness of the Constitution thereby." 

" And as to the Constitution itself, the following appears to us 
exceptionable, viz., the fifth article, which deprives a part of the 
human race of their natural rights on account of their color ; which, 
in our opinion, no power on earth has a just right to do." 

They also objected to the Constitution before them, because it 
deprived the people of the choice of many of their officers ; and 
they supported this position by the following truly democratic rea- 
soning. " Where can the power be lodged so safely as in the 
hands of the people ; and who can delegate it so well as they ? Or 
who has the boldness to say without blushing, that the people are 
not suitable to put in their own officers ? If so, why do we waste 
our blood and treasure to obtain that which, when obtained, we 
are not fit to enjoy ? " 

The Constitution in question was not only rejected by the good 
people of this Town, but by the good people of the State ; and its 
rejection led to the formation of another, and a better one, which 
was adopted. 

The history of Westminster, as of other towns during the Revo- 
lution, exhibits one continued, persevering struggle with difficulties, 
to which we are strangers. The duty of furnishing a certain quota 
of troops and supplies for the army, the poverty and destitution of 
the people, the depreciated and fluctuating state of paper money — 
these were embarrassments which, though unknown to us, pressed 
heavily upon the people at that day. Some idea of the depreciated 
state of paper money, and the consequent increase of prices, may 
be formed by the fact that the wood furnished to E.ev. Mr. Rice, in 
1786, was procured at auction for fifty-nine and sixty dollars per 
cord. 

The state of things that followed the Revolution was, if possible, 
more distressing. The return of the soldiers without pay, the 
habits of the camp which they brought with them, the general in- 
debtedness of the Nation, the State, and the Town, and the inabil- 
ity of the people to meet their private debts, together with the 
grasping and extortionary spirit of the few moneyed men to exact 
the last farthing, — these contributed to bring upon the people an 
embarrassment and perplexity as great as was felt during the war, 
without any of that foreign pressure Avhich awakened and kept 
alive their patriotism, before their independence was acknowledged. 



49 

The population of Westminster, between 1770 and 1780, not- 
withstanding the check produced by the Revolutionary war, in- 
creased about forty-six per cent, bringing the population at the 
latter period up to about 990. Within this period, several families 
came into town. I shall not attempt to arrange them in the 
order of their settlement, nor attempt to trace them to their origin. 
The following, among others, settled within this period ; and their 
families have been more or less numerous and influential in the 
town : Joseph Flint, William Bickford, Simon Gates, Asa Ray, 
Edmund Barnard from Waltham, Nathaniel Tothingham, who 
married Esther Brown of Lexington, Jonathan Hager from Wal- 
tham, Aaron Bolton, Norman Seaver, Timothy Damon from 
Reading, Jedediah Cooper, Isaac Williams from Newton, Nathan 
Wetherbee from Marlborough, Thomas and James Laws, Zacha- 
riah Whitman from Stow, (who had fourteen children, among 
whom were Jonathan, Zachariah, and Joseph,) Thomas Knower 
from Maiden, William Murdock, Samuel Gerrish from Sterling, 
Timothy Heywood from Sterling, Isaac Dupee from Reading, 
Nathan Eaton from Reading, and Jonathan Minott from West- 
ford. 

Three of the above families I have been able to trace back to the 
early emigrant. John Whitman came to this country early, and 
settled in Weymouth before 1638. In 1645, he was appointed 
Ensign, and a Magistrate to " end small controversies." He was 
also a Deacon of the church. His youngest son, Zachariah, was 
a clergyman, and settled at Nantasket, 1670. John, his second 
son, settled in Stow, where he was a Magistrate and a Deacon. 
He had, among other sons, Zachariah, who was the father of the 
Zachariah who came to Westminster. 

Timothy Heywood was a descendant of George Heywood of 
Concord, who was one of the first settlers there, died 1671. He 
had a son and a grandson by the name of John ; the latter was a 
Deacon, and had Phinehas, born in 1707, who settled in Shrews- 
bury, where Timothy was born, February 12, 1740. Timothy 
settled first in Sterling, and then moved to Westminster, where 
he died August 14, 1825. He had eleven children. 

Jonathan Minott was born August 23, 1749, and married, Sept. 
3, 1771, Hannah Eastman of Westford. He was one of the gal- 
lant men who marched to Lexington, April 19, 1775. George 
Minott, son of Thomas Minott, Esq., of Essex, England, was 
7 



50 

born 1594, came to this country early, aud settled in Dorchester. 
He was the ancestor of Jonathan. George Minott was an Elder 
in the church, and was cotemporary with Elder Humphrey. They 
were both held in high esteem, as appears by the attempt to confer 
immortality upon them by Epitaph : 

" Here lie the bodies of Unite Humphrey and Shining Minott ; 
Such names as these, they never die not." 

One remarkable fact concerning several of these families is, 
that when they came to the place, they were, in the language of 
that day, "warned out of town." This was true of some men 
who afterwards became wealthy, respectable, and influential. This 
precaution was taken, lest the new-comers, or some of their 
family, should become paupers, and chargeable to the town. It 
would cause a smile to be told that one -half of the men who 
have filled the principal offices in the town, for the last fifty 
years, such as Selectmen, Town Clerk, Representative, and Jus- 
tice of the Peace, have been warned out of town, either in their 
own persons, or in that of their ancestors. And yet this is the 
fact with reference to this, and most of the towns in the Common- 
wealth. 

In 1785, a tract, consisting of seven or eight thousand acres, in 
the north-westerly part of the town, was set off from Westminster, 
to form a part of a new town, by the name of Gardner. 

In 1786, a vote was passed in town-meeting, to build a new 
Meeting-house. This house was finished in 1788, and was dedi- 
cated January 1, 1789. It was located on the Common, north of 
the present traveled road. It was a two-story building, with gal- 
leries, and was finished, ultimately, with square pews, a sounding- 
board, and all the usual accommodations of that period. It re- 
mained as the place of worship till 1837, when it was superseded 
by the new house now standing upon the Street. The old house 
was then disposed of, and the frame, somewhat reduced in height, 
was removed to another part of the village, and converted into a 
mill, and a pail and chair factory. It is now generally known as 
the Red Mill. 

Next to the church and a minister, our fathers generally pro- 
vided for schools and the schoolmaster. It is probable that some- 
thing was done by private individuals before that period ; but the 
first appropriation we find, was one of twenty dollars, in 1759. 



51 

Two years afterwards, the grant M'as increased to twenty-six dollars, 
and in 1763, to forty-four dollars. This money was expended in 
what was denominated a moving school, which was kept in private 
houses, in different parts of the town. In 17G5 or '66, the dis- 
trict was fined for not supporting schools according to law. This 
acting as a stimulus, in 1767 the inhabitants erected a school-house 
twenty feet square, and appropriated one hundred dollars for the 
support of schools. This school-house was situated on the Com- 
mon, easterly of the JNIeeting-housc. The same year, the district 
voted to support a school for four months, in the centre of the 
town. In 1771, one hundred and eighty dollars were appropri- 
ated for schools, and in lll^l, the inhabitants voted to divide the 
town into live districts, and to erect a school-house in each, eighteen 
feet square. From that period to the present, the schools have been 
improving. The number of public schools at this day is thirteen ; 
the aggregate number of months those schools are kept, yearly, is 
about seventy ; the number of scholars between the ages of five 
and fifteen is a little rising four hundred ; and the amount of money 
raised for the support of schools is fifteen hundred dollars, or about 
three dollars and sixty-eight cents for each scholar between the 
ages of five and fifteen years. 

Besides the public schools, in 1829, there was an academy 
established in the place, which, for a long period, was well patron- 
ized ; but owing to the numerous high schools in the adjoining 
toAvns, the interest in this and other academies has declined. 

On the organization of the district into a town, in 1770, they 
neglected to elect a Representative to the General Court, for which 
neglect a fine was imposed. Owing to the deranged state of polit- 
ical affairs, no Representative was elected till 1776, when Deacon 
Nathan Wood, who had represented the town in the three Pro- 
vincial Congresses, was elected. In the following years, during 
the Revolution, Deacon Miller and Abner Ilolden represented the 
town. 

After passing through the trials of the Revolution, and recover- 
ing from the state of depression and pecuniary embarrassment, 
attendant upon that exhausting war, the town became comparatively 
prosperous, and its population and wealth gradually increased. 

Several families came into the place before the year 1800, of 
whom I have taken no notice heretofore. I will mention a few of 
them, and especially those who have left descendants. Edward 



52 

Bacon from Newton, Thaddeus Bond from Sudbury, "Francis Barnes 
from Acton, Silas Beaman from Princeton, Samuel Fessenden from 
Lexington, Ephraira Fenno from Boston, Phinehas and Amos 
Gates from Stow, Edward Kendall from Leominster, Samuel Mose- 
man from Princeton, Benjamin Nichols from Beading, several by 
the name of Smith from Sudbury, Jeduthan Warren from Chelms- 
ford, James White from Lancaster, several of the name of Stone 
from Groton, several of the name of Taylor from Stow, Moses 
Thurston from Newbury, Abisha Shumway from Oxford, David 
Wyman from Pelham, New Hampshire. 

As the population of the town is a pretty sure exponent of its 
wealth and prosperity, I will give the population in each decennial 
period, from the first settlement to the present day. 

Year. Population. Year. Population. 

1740 25 1810, 1,419 

1750, 95 1820, 1,634 

1760, 300 1830, 1,695 

1770, 680 1840 1,645 

1780, 990 1850, 1,914 

1790, 1,176 1855, 1,979 

1800, 1,368 

From 1740 to 1780, inclusive, the population as above stated, is 
unofficial, though I am persuaded that it is a close approximation to 
the true amount. From 1790 to 1850, inclusive, the population is 
taken from the United States census, and the population of 1855, 
is taken from the State census.. 

Having given the inhabitants at different periods, I will give the 
polls and dwelling-houses, as far as I can obtain them officially. In 
an old document, signed by Thomas Brigden, William Edgell, 
and Nathan Wood, Assessors, dated 1771, I find the resources of 
the town set forth as follows : — polls taxed, 182 ; not taxed, 15 ; 
houses, 122 ; shops, not connected with dwellings, 4 ; grist, full- 
ing and saw mills, 6 ; slaves, 3 ; horses, 75 ; oxen, four years' 
old and over, 178 ; cows, three years old and upward, 374 ; grain 
of all kinds, 4,659 bushels. 

In 1830, Westminster stood in the State valuation, at $339,006, 
and paid $1.85 on every $1,000 State tax. Number of dwelling- 
houses, 257 ; of barns, 253 ; of oxen, 330 ; of cows, 800 ; of 
horses, 228 ; of young cattle, 538 ; of sheep, 846 ; of swine, 302 ; 



53 



of saw mills, 8 ; of grist mills, 5 ; of factories, 1 ; of carding 
machines, 1 ; of clothier's works, 1 ; of turning lathes, 5 ; of tan- 
neries, 3 ; and of stores, 6. 

In 1830, Westminster stood in the valuation, at $339,006 

" 1840, " " " 457,983 

And in 1850, in the valuation, at . . . 732,784 

Showing an increase in twenty years, of . . 393,778 

In a tabular form, this kind of information will stand thus : 



Dwelling-Houses. 

122 
153 

IGG 

189 
212 
220 

257 
282 
305 



Year. 






Polls. 


1771 . . . 197 


1785 






271 


1791 






318 


1801 






334 


1811 






384 


1821 






421 


1831 






433 


1841 






468 


1851 






519 



The valuation taken in 1798, as the basis of the direct tax 
imposed by the United States, casts considerable Hght upon the 
condition of the town at that time, by showing the value of the 
houses, the number of families, and the owners or occupants of 
the homestead, and the value put upon the respective houses. 
There were other smaller tenements, of less value. The first col- 
umn shows the name of the owner or occupant ; the second, the value 
of the house, including the lot, not exceeding forty square rods. 



John Adams, . 
Jabez Bigelow, 
Ephraim Bigelow, 
Elisha Bigelow, 
Daniel Bartlett, 
Luke Bigelow, . 
Aaron Bolton, . 
Edward Bacon, 
Edmund Barnard, 
Richard Baker, 
Edward Bemis, 
Thomas Bemis, 
Zaccheus Bemis, 
Joseph Bemis, . 



i 102 Silas Beaman, . . 

750 Benjamin Bigelow, 

380 Thaddeus Bond 

790 Samuel Brooks, 

580 Isaac Brooks, 

150 Jonathan Brown 

150 David Child, 

101 Thomas Conant 

500 Jedediah Cooper, 

350 James Cohee, 

300 Andrew Darby, 

lO.'J John Damon, 

220 Timothy , 

400 Ezra Darby, 



Jr., 



$200 

. 103 

, 500 

. 175 

. 410 

. 420 

. 110 

. 110 

. 540 

. 575 

, 2G0 

. 300 

. 320 

. 150 



54 



Nathan Darby, . . 


$200 


Ephraim Robbins, 






$175 


John Darby, . . . . 


. 350 


Daniel Sawin, . . . 




. 101 


Nicholas Dike, . . . 


. 150 


Silas Smith, . . . 




. 115 


Nathan Eaton, . . . 


. 103 


Charles Smith, . . 




. 400 


William Edgell, . . . 


. 600 


Thaddeus Smith, . . 




. 300 


John Estabrook, , . 


. 400 


Abishai Shumway, 




. 290 


Peletiah Everett, . . . 


. 480 


Joseph Sawin, . . 




. 200 


Benjamin Flint, . . . 


. 300 


Abraham Sampson, 




. 300 


John Fessenden, . . . 


. 140 


Jonathan Sawin, . . 




. 110 


Daniel Foskett, . . 


. 105 


James Sawin, , . 




. 200 


Stephen Hoar, . . . 


. 870 


Samuel Sawin, . . 




. 320 


John Hoar, 


. 580 


Joseph Spaulding", 




. 150 


Stephen Holden, . . . 


. 110 


Zebina Spaulding, 




. 105 


Seth Harrington, . . . 


. 400 


Benjamin Seaver, 




. 102 


Timothy Heywood, . . 


. 103 


David Sawin, . . 




. 400 


Jonathan Hager, . . 


. 480 


Jonathan Sawyer, 




. 740 


Abner Holden, . . . 


. 560 


Eli Sawyer, . . 




. 230 


Abner Holden, Jr., . 


. 240 


AsaTaft, . . . 




. 101 


John Brown, . . . 


.. 480 


Moses Thurston, . 




. 320 


Levi Holden, . . . . 


. 400 


Asa Taylor, . . 




. 465 


Nathan Howard, . . 


. 260 


Nathan Tottingham, 




. 220 


Oliver Jackson, . . 


. 160 


Samuel Taylor, 




. 105 


Edward Jackson, . . 


. 598 


Nathan Whitney, . 




. 520 


Silas Jackson, . . . 


. 220 


John Woodward, . 




. . 103 


Thomas Johnson, . . 


. 150 


Nathan Woodward, 




. 180 


Edward Kendall, . . 


. . 375 


Thomas Wetherbee, 




. . 105 


Thomas Knower, . . 


. 150 


Joel Wilder, . . 




. . 480 


Abel Moseman, . . 


. 102 


Ephraim Wetherbee, 




. . 200 


Thomas Lows, . . . 


. 120 


Zachariah Whitman, 




. 780 


James Lows, Jr., . . 


. 120 


Jeduthan Warren, 




. . 101 


Jonathan Minott, . . 


. 500 


Thomas Wheeler, 




. . 103 


Noah Miles, . . . 


. 320 


James Winship, . 




. . 200 


Samuel Miller, . . . 


. 220 


James Winship, Jr., 




. 102 


Samuel Moseman, 


. 600 


Cyrus Winship, . 




. . 250 


Isaac Miller, . . . 


. 101 


Josiah Wheeler, . 




. . 775 


Jonas Miles, . . . 


. 700 


Abner Whitney, . 




. 101 


Asa Merriam, . . . 


. 150 


Alpheus Whitney, 




. . 160 


John Martin, . . . 


. 460 


Phinehas Whitney, 




. . 275 


Thomas Merriam, . . 


. 320 


Nathan Whitney, 




. . 380 


Samuel Merriam, . . 


. 150 


David Whitney, 




. . 380 


John Miles, .... 


. . 360 


John Whitney, 






. . 520 


Joseph Miller, . . . 


. 170 


Joel Whitney, 






. . 105 


Paul Matthews, . . 


. . 300 


Jonas Whitney, 






. . 355 


John Murdock, . . . 


. . 440 


Isaac Williams, 






. . 210 


Asaph Rice, (Rev.) not t 


axed. 


Ahijah Wood, 






. . 819 


Heman Ray, . . . 


. . 103 


Abel Wood, . 






. . 690 


Zachariah Rand, . . 


. . 400 


David Wyman, 






. . 160 


Jonathan Raymond, . 


. . 200 











00 

The foregoing table shows the relative value of their dwellings, 
and their style of living, so far as the house is an index. 

Westminster has never been particularly distinguished for her 
manufactures, though there has been, for the last thirty or forty 
years, a considerable amount of small articles manufactured in the 
place. Twenty-five or thirty years ago, the manufacture of straw 
braid and straw bonnets, was carried on by the ladies in their fam- 
ilies, to the amount of eighteen or twenty thousand dollars a year ; 
but that business has mostly ceased. The principal manufactures, 
now, are paper and chairs. The returns made to the Legislature 
in 1855, showed a manufacture of paper of the annual value of 
$79,900 ; of chairs and cabinet ware, $95,380 ; of bread manu- 
factured, $15,000 ; and other small articles ; — making an aggregate 
of a little over $200,000. 

We have already spoken of the call and settlement of Rev. Mr, 
Rice, over the Congregational Society in Westminster, in 1765. 
He died in 1816. About two years before his death, he had a 
shock of the paralysis, which put an end to his public labors ; and 
on Feb. 22, 1815, Rev. Cyrus Mann was ordained as his colleague. 
Mr. Mann continued his labors with the Society till 1840, when 
he took a dismission, and was succeeded by Rev. Stephen S. Smith, 
who remained their pastor eight years. He was succeeded, suc- 
cessively, by Rev. jNIessrs. Orlando H. White, Marcus Ames, and 
Brown Emerson, their present pastor. 

The people of Westminster were united in one religious society 
until 1812. At that time a small number of individuals, mostly 
from the northerly part of the town, uniting with their brethren 
in Ashburnham, formed a Methodist Society, and erected a small 
!Meeting-house. But this Society, always small, has become 
extinct. 

In 1816, a Society of Universal Restorationists was formed, and 
was incorporated in 1820. Having erected a Meeting-house, Rev. 
Levi Briggs was installed their pastor, Sept. o, 1822 ; sermon by 
Rev. Paul Dean, of Boston. Mr. Briggs's time having expired. 
Rev. Charles Hudson took the pastoral care of this Church and 
Society in April, 182-i. In April, 1825, he removed to the place, 
and continued his relation with the Society till the spring of 1842. 
Since that time, they have been supplied by Rev. Messrs. Paul 



56 • 

Dean, Varnum Lincoln, Quincy Whitney, and D. C. O'Daniels, 
The Society is now destitute of a preacher. 

In 1827, a Baptist Society was organized, and in 1829 they 
erected a brick Meeting-house ; in March, 1830, constituted a 
Church ; and Rev. Appleton Morse was ordained over this Society, 
and one in Princeton, October 20, 1830 ; sermon by Rev. Prof. 
Chase, of Newton. Mr. Morse was succeeded by Rev. Mr. San- 
derson, and he, by Rev. Messrs. David Wright, Caleb Birown, 
George D. Felton, Chandler Curtis, J. E. Forbush, George Carpen- 
ter, and others. Their Meeting-house is secured to the Baptists 
forever by a trust deed, and all the pew-owners hold their pews on 
condition that " The Church reserve the right of calling, settling, 
continuing and dismissing the minister." Such provisions are of 
doubtful expediency; and generally tend to alienate, rather than 
miite, any Christian society. 

Situated upon the height of land, where the water is pure and 
the air salubrious, Westminster has always been remarkable for the 
health of its inhabitants. The bills of mortality show many cases 
of remarkable longevity. Few towns, of the same population, can 
present so large a list of aged persons, who have died within the 
last fifty years. The records, in this respect, are quite imperfect ; 
many deaths being set down without any mention of the age, — 
and yet they present the following striking facts. 

From 1800 to 1814, inclusive, when the record was very meagre, 
there were recorded sixteen deaths of persons over 80 years of age, 
viz., two of 80 ; two of 81 ; two of 82 ; three of 83 ; two of 84 ; 
one of 85 ; one of 86 ; one of 87 ; and two of 90. From 1815 
to 1830, inclusive, there were forty-five persons who were 80 years 
and upwards, viz., eleven of 80 ; one of 81 ; thi'ee of 82 ; four of 
83 ; four of 84 ; four of 85 ; seven of 86 ; one of 87 ; one of 
88 ; five of 90 ; two of 92 ; one of 94 ; and one of 96. From 
1835 to 1859, inclusive, there were one hundred and five persons 
who died in town, of 80 years and upwards, viz., twenty-seven of 
80 ; four of 81 ; four of 82; six of 83 ; twelve of 84 ; four of 
85 ; five of 86 ; two of 87 ; twelve of 88 ; two of 89 ; ten of 90 ; 
three of 91 ; two of 92 ; two of 93 ; two of 94 ; two of 96 ; two 
of 97 ; one of 98 ; one of 99 ; and one of 100. 

There are several instances, rather remarkable, of husband and 
wife both living to great age, and dying at nearly the same time. 



' 57 

Richard Baker died 1808, aged 80; his wife died 18 LS, aged 78. 
Richard Graves died 1798, aged 88 ; his wife died 1800, aged 87. 
Seth Harrington died 1815, aged 86 ; his wife died 1811, aged 85. 
Elias Holden died 1838 ; his wife died 1839, aged 76. Abner 
Holden died 1805, aged 81 ; his wife died 1812, aged 83. Eben- 
ezer Mann died 1844, aged 94 ; his wife died 1847, aged 91. 
Ephraim Miller died 1828, aged 85 ; his wife died 1824, aged 85. 
Thomas Merriam died 1821, aged 90, his wife died 1819, aged 80. 
John Miles died 1808, aged 81 ; his Avife died 1808, aged 83. 
Samuel Moseman died 1852, aged 80 ; his wife died 1851, aged 77. 
Jonathan Sawin died 1822, aged 87 ; his wife died 1826, aged 91. 
Nathan Whitney died 1851, aged 87 ; his wife died 1849, aged 79. 
These examples show the longevity of the inhabitants of Westmin- 
ster, and speak well for the health of the place. 

As I have given this Address so much of a historical character, 
I will carry out the plan, by giving a brief sketch of the situation, 
extent, and topography of the township. 

Westminster is a post-town in the northern part of Worcester 
County, situated on the ridge of highlands which divide the waters 
that flow into the Merrimack river, from those that flow into the 
Connecticut. It lies in latitude 42° 23' N. and in longitude 5° 1' E. 
from the meridian of Washington ; and is about twenty-one miles 
north from Worcester, and about fifty-four miles West North- 
West from Boston. It is bounded northerly by Ashburnham, 
easterly by Fitchburg and Leominster, southerly by Princeton and 
Hubbardston, and westerly by Hubbardston and Gardner. 

The principal village is situated on the old post road from Bos- 
ton to Brattlcborough, and consists of between sixty and seventy 
dwelling-houses, three English and West India goods stores, and 
several mechanics' shops. There are also two churches, and an 
academy in the village. The Common, containing about four acres, 
is about sixty rods from the centre of the village. It is situated on 
the summit of a large swell of land, elevated sixty or eighty feet 
above the village, and commands an extensive and delightful pros- 
pect. At the base of this hill, on the one side, glides a stream of 
water which flows from the swamps westerly of the village, while 
on the other is spread out the Westminster pond, a beautiful sheet 
of water, covering about one hundred and seventy acres. And 
while these attractions lie at the base of the hill, a more distant 



58 

view gives you a great variety of hills and dales, spread out in 
native rudeness and beauty. On the one hand, stands the lofty 
Wachusett, whose elevated head is " conspicuous far o'er all the 
hills around ; " and on the other, at about twenty miles distant, the 
grand Monadnock, with brow half seen and half concealed in 
clouds, bounds the prospect of the beholder. And while these 
lofty elevations stand as watch-towers to the south and the north, 
the eastern horizon is studded with lesser heights and with the 
villages of Groton and Westford, whose spires reflect the last rays 
of the setting sun. 

There was formerly an important line of travel passing through 
this town. The stages from Greenfield and Brattleboro' passed 
daily, in both directions, through the village, and the stages from 
Keene passed through the northerly part of the town ; but since 
the opening of the Cheshire, and the Vermont and Massachusetts 
Railroads, the travel is diverted in a great degree fiom the centre 
of the town. The railroad passes through the northerly and 
easterly portions of the town, but the station is about two miles 
from the village. 

Lying upon the mountain range, the township is of course 
elevated. The village is nearly eleven hundred feet above tide- 
water, and more than nine hundred feet above the mouth of Mil- 
ler's river at Montague. Situated between the Wachusett and the 
Monadnock, the winters are more severe, and the snows fall in 
greater depth, than in most towns in the same latitude. But the 
summers are delightful ; the pure and bracing air gives a buoyancy 
of spirits and a glow of health, which richly compensates for the 
frosts of winter'. 

The surface of the township is generally rocky and uneven ; but 
rising in large and gradual swells, the soil is not generally broken. 
The Wachusett mountain, in Princeton, has the northern portion of 
its base within the town of Westminster. There are other eleva- 
tions in the town, of considerable magnitude. The soil is generally 
moist and strong, and under a high state of cultivation, would be 
very productive. It is a good grazing town. The territory is 
remarkably well watered. Being upon the summit, the streams 
are comparatively small, and yet there is a large quantity of water 
flowing from the town. The Westminster and Wachusett ponds, 
containing an aggregate of nearly three hundred and fifty acres, 
and being fed by springs from the circumjacent hills, furnish a 



59 

good supply of water. Besides, there are several large ranges 
of swampy land, from which considerable streams issue. Almost 
the whole of the stream at Fitchburg, which constitutes the north- 
ern branch of the Nashua, comes from or through the township of 
Westminster. And in addition to the waters which flow easterly 
into the Nashua, Westminster sends her tributaries westerly into 
Miller's, and south-westerly into Chicopee river. Thus standing on 
an eminence, between the Connecticut and the Merrimack, AVest- 
minster regards them with impartiality, and liberally imparts her 
favors to the two principal rivers in the State. 

Westminster has never been particularly noted for being the 
birth-place or residence of distinguished men. Rev. John Miles, 
for many years a settled clergyman in Grafton, was a native of the 
place. Hon. Abijah Bigelow of Worcester, who was Clerk of the 
Courts of Worcester County, and who represented the District in 
Congress, originated here. Hon. Solomon Strong, who was also 
a member of Congress, and afterwards Chief Justice of the 
Court of Common Pleas, made Westminster, for a time, the place 
of his residence. Clough R. Miles, Esq., of Millbury, a lawyer of 
considerable distinction, was a native of this town. Hon. Charles 
Hudson of Lexington, while residing in Westminster, which he 
did for nearly twenty-five years, represented in part the County of 
Worcester six years in the Senate of IMassachusetts, three years in 
the Executive Council, and the District eight years in Congress. 
Dr. John White, a physician in Watertown, New York, a son of 
Deacon James White, was born in Westminster, where he prac- 
ticed medicine more than twenty years. Dr. Flavel Cutting, who 
practiced medicine in Westminster many years, was born of West- 
minster parents. Rev. Asaph Merriam, Rev, Charles Kendall, a 
clergyman now of Petersham, son of Edward Kendall, Esq., were 
born in this place ; as Avas Rev. Joseph Peckham of Kingston, and 
Rev. Franklin Merriam, now of New Boston, New Hampshire. 
Hon. Giles H. Whitney of Winchendon, who has represented the 
County in part in the Senate, resided at one time in Westminster. 
Dr. Cyrus Mann of Stoughton, son of Rev. Cyrus Mann, was 
born and brought up in this town. 

Joseph AVood, son of Abel AVood, Esq., graduated at AVilliams 
College, 1815, entered the ministry, and died in Alabama, 18o7. 
Theodore S. AA^ood, son of Ezra, graduated at Amherst, 1833, and 



60 

died in Andover while at the Theological School, 1835. Franklin 
Wood, son of Deacon B. F. Wood, graduated at Dartmouth, 1841 ; 
is now a teacher in Minnesota. Abel Wood, son of Deacon B. F. 
Wood, graduated at Dartmouth, 1843, studied divinity, and is 
now one of the teachers in Meriden Academy, New Hampshire. 
Dr. Joel W. Wyman, a physician in South Carolina, and Dr. John 
L. White, were natives of this town. The latter is in Illinois. 
Westminster has also sent out quite a number of teachers. 
A. Holden Merriam, J. Russell Gaut, William S. Heywood, 
Francis S. Heywood, and Porter P. Heywood, William F. and 
Edward E. Bradbury, besides a large number of females from this 
town, have been employed as teachers in this and distant parts of 
the country. 

In this enumeration, we should not overlook the pious and 
devoted females, who have relinquished the pleasures and joys of 
home, and have voluntarily exiled themselves from the comforts of 
civilized society, to spread the Gospel among the heathen. Myra 
Wood, daughter of Abel Wood, Esq., married Rev. David O. 
Allen, a Missionary to Bombay. She accompanied him, in 1827, 
to that place, and died there, in 1831, in the thirtieth year of her 
age. Mary Sawyer, daughter of Jacob Sawyer, and grand- 
daughter of Rev. Asaph Rice, of Westminster, married Rev. 
William C. Jackson, a Missionary to the East, and spent several 
years at Trebizond and vicinity, in the neighborhood of the Black 
Sea. 

The question is sometimes asked, by what title we hold our 
lands ? Were they purchased, or how was the Indian title extin- 
guished ? It is not easy, perhaps, to give a specific answer to these 
questions. But a statement of the facts in the case, will make the 
matter tolerably clear. So far as the first settlers were concerned, 
it is sufficient to say that they held under the grant of the General 
Court. If there is any difficulty in the case — any wrong done to 
the native tribes, it was done by the body politic, and not by those 
who established themselves in this township. For at the time of 
the first settlement here, this region was destitute of inhabitants. 

In order to judge correctly of the justice and equity of the 
policy of our fathers toward the native tribes, it is important to 
recur to first principles. When God created man, he said unto 
him, " Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and 



61 

subdue ity It is apparent that a people who subdue the soil, and 
fit it for the habitation of man, have in the abstract, a better title 
to the land, than a people who simply roam over it, to hunt and to 
fish. It is also apparent that a given section of country will sup- 
port a vastly greater population of civilized than of savage men ; so 
that the great and benevolent plan of Providence is promoted, by 
a savage race giving place to a civilized one. No enlightened 
Christian, therefore, can lament that an uncivilized, pagan nation, 
fades away before a civilized. Christian nation. To murmur at 
this, is to murmur at the order of Providence. 

But this can never justify any oppression, or fraud, or injustice, 
on the part of the stronger or civilized race. Were our fathers 
guilty of any fraud, or injustice, towards the natives ? This is the 
question to be settled. For the sake of brevity, I confine myself 
to this section of the Commonwealth. It is a well known fact, that 
some eight years before the landing of the Pilgrims, the Massachu- 
setts, a tribe which held possession of this part of the State, had 
been visited by a dreadful pestilence, which had reduced their 
numbers from many thousands, to a few hundreds ; so that this 
section of the country was almost depopulated, when the Massa- 
chusett Colony was^first established here. It will hardly be main- 
tained that a few hundred wild men of the woods ought to hold 
the whole of this delightful country against the claims of a more 
civilized people, who were driven by oppression from their native 
land. 

The English emigrants were, even in view of the " higher law," 
entitled to a footing in this country. There was vacant land 
enough for the red men and for the white. And the toil in cross- 
ing the ocean gave them a title to the vacant lands, not much 
inferior to that of the Indians, who never mingled their labor with 
the soil. Where the natives were in possession — where they had 
habitations and fields and accustomed hunting-grounds — their 
claims should be regarded as paramount, and respected accordingly. 
But it seems to be straining the point to say, that a few wild men 
of the woods had a vendable right in the soil throughout hun- 
dreds of miles of wilderness, simply because they, or their fathers, 
had in a few instances roamed over some portions of it in quest of 
game. 

Besides, when the Chiefs of the Massachusetts, the Nashuas, 
and other tribes, put themselves under the Massachusetts Colony, 



62 

in 1644, they virtually relinquished their jurisdiction over the 
unsettled sections of the country. Westminster was probably 
never permanently occupied by any of the native tribes. The 
Nashuas, who resided in that part of Lancaster which now con- 
stitutes Sterling, perhaps visited temporarily the section near the 
Wachusett pond ; but they never made it a permanent place of 
residence. So that the General Court might have felt themselves 
at liberty, ever after 1644, to grant this township to any settlers. 

But another important event occurred before this township was 
granted. When the Nashuas joined Philip, in 1675, as they did 
in a good degree, in violation of their treaty, they put all their 
country at the hazard of the contest ; and the English settlements 
in the Colony, by the arbitrament of arms, came into possession of 
this portion of the country, though they did not in fact take pos- 
session of it till more than half a century after, when it had been 
for years abandoned by the Indians. 

This general view of the subject shows, that the General Court 
had a title to this section of the State, at the time they granted the 
township, which would then, and now, be considered valid by the 
law of nations, as it is understood in the most enlightened and 
civilized countries. 

But behind all this lies a question of moral right, which we have 
no disposition to overlook. The rights of war will never justify 
fraud or injustice. How then did our fathers treat the natives ? 
In most instances they were treated fairly, and even kindly, by the 
Massachusetts Colony. After their voluntary submission, in 1644, 
wherever they had settlements, they were protected in their pos- 
sessions ; and whenever they desired grants of land, these grants 
were cheerfully made. The Natick Indians had a plantation laid 
out for them, as early as 1652 ; and even earlier than that, they 
were allowed to bring actions in the Courts of the Colony to main- 
tain titles to their lands. And in 1652, it " was ordered and 
enacted by this Court, that what lands any of the Indians, within 
this jurisdiction, have by possession, or improvement, by subduing 
the same, they have just right thereunto." These rights were, I 
believe, in all cases, respected by the Colony, and in numerous 
cases grants were made to them. We might instance the grants at 
Marlborough, Grafton, and many other places. And to show that 
this faith has been kept, we can point to the grants that are made 
to this day to the Indians at Grafton, Gay Head, Mai'shpee, and 



63 

other places. We could also point to numerous localities, where 
the Indian titles have been extinguished by purchase. 

That there are individual cases, where the Indians have been de- 
frauded, there can be no doubt. But this was generally done by 
unprincipled individuals, rather than by the body politic. And 
wherever injustice has been practiced, the fact that the defrauded 
party was the uncivilized Indian, aggravates, rather than extenu- 
ates the crime. An expiring nation, like expiring individuals, 
should be regarded with sympathy, and treated with kindness ; and 
the individual, or the community, which violates this obvious 
principle, is guilty of a wrong, for which they must atone. 

If it were possible, I should like to present an exact picture of 
the condition of society as it existed one hundred years ago, that 
you might see what strange mutations a century has wrought. 
These hills and dales are in their general outlines the same ; but 
all their surroundings are changed. Thick forests of pine have 
given place to fields of golden grain, and the rivulets which then 
forced their way amid decaying trunks of prostrate trees, or gurgled 
through dense thickets of alders, now flow gracefully through 
meadows waving with grass, and yielding a full repast for the 
tenants of the stall. The hillsides, which resounded with the wild 
howl of beasts of prey, are now vocal with the lowing of gentle 
herds. 

And the general condition of the inhabitants relative to their 
houses, their furniture, their dress, their food, and their modes of 
life, has undergone a change as great as that of the face of nature. 
"We have seen that the first habitations of the settlers were only 
about eighteen feet square, and some of these were but little larger 
than the huge stone chimney which, for want room in the house, 
was actually turned out of doors. The size of the houses had 
increased before the district was incorporated ; but the people had 
not, at that time, run to the other extreme, which was afterwards 
adopted, of erecting a large house which they were unable to 
finish. 

But we should not suffer the rough boards, on the outside of 
their houses, to hide the primitive simplicity which reigned within. 
If you were to approach one of their hmnble and imprctending 
dwellings, on a winter's evening, avoiding the wood -pile in front of 
the house, three or four lusty raps with the knuckles on the door 



64 

would bring a hearty response of " walk in," when, by pulling the 
latch-string, which was always out, and so lifting the wooden latch, 
the door would open, and you would find yourself in the presence 
of the whole family, of ten or a dozen persons, of all ages, seated 
around a crackling fire. The huge back-log, which was rolled into 
the fire-place in the morning, and which had manfully resisted the 
blazing element through the day, would be seen yielding the 
ascendency, and furnishing a mass of burning coals, sufficient to 
smelt the most sullen ore. 

By the blaze of the pine knots, which illuminated the room, 
you would have the family group in full view before you. 
In one corner sits the aged grandma'am, in a rude oaken chair, 
bottomed with strips of elm bark or raw hide ; while in the other 
corner, on a huge settle, whose high-boarded back was designed to 
intercept old Boreas in his passage from the shrunken boards and 
broken windows, to the open-mouthed chimney, are seen three or 
four children, giving visible symptoms that the time had arrived to 
draw out what, in latter days, and in more advanced stages of 
civilization, would be denominated a " trundle bed," and to con- 
sign them to repose. On the long block within the jambs, and 
yet at a respectable distance from the fire, two or three older 
urchins are playing their sly tricks, and endangering the vessel 
near them, filled, not with Tyrean dye, but with what would suffi- 
ciently tinge the four-skein yarn, which the hum of the wheel 
gives evidence is being produced, and so fit it for use. 

If the blaze of the green wood falters, or the pine lamps become 
dim, they are revived and replenished, by the shavings produced 
from the birch broom, which the good man of the house is peeling, 
or from those of the wooden spoons, which another member of the 
masculines is whittling out for the next repast from the tray of 
bean porridge, still in its minority, being less than " nine days 
old." 

A survey of the furniture would at once convince you that 
nature's wants were few, and easily supplied. The settle supplied 
the place of the sofa — the form, of the lounge — and the block, of 
the ottoman. A single rude table sufficed for a centre, a dining, 
and a tea-table ; and in its composition, a pine board supplanted 
the marble slab, the mahogany, and the black walnut. Their 
china closet, or what was then generally denominated a dresser, 
consisted of two or three shelves, nailed to the side of the house. 



65 

on which were deposited a few wooden trenchers or plates, a tray, 
wooden spoons and wooden bowls, all of home production, a 
pewter or brown earthen mug, and a few knives and forks. A 
wooden shovel or peel, served to stir the embers, or rake up the 
fire ; and a broom, of peeled birch or of hemlock boughs, to 
SAveep the room or bnish up the ashes. 

Their dress was in keeping Avith their furniture. Plain, simple 
home-spun, excluded the silks and the satins, and linsey-woolsey 
displaced a hundred nameless French fabrics, with which the 
market at this day is glutted. The checked apron, the " sheep's 
gray" trowsers, the woolen or tow shirt, and the various articles of 
wool or flax, colored with maple, walnut, apple-tree, or some other 
bark, constituted the dress of the family, on ordinary occasions ; 
while the Sabbath might bring to view a calico dress, or some 
article of foreign production. On the fashion of dresses, however, 
I shall not dwell. This subject is too expansive to be encircled on 
an occasion like the present. But in the midst of this simplicity, 
we find some article of furniture, like a clock, a chair, or a look- 
ing-glass ; or some ornament, like a pair of shoe or knee-buckles, 
which had come down from Euroj)ean ancestors, cherished with a 
fond pride, and displayed with an air of no small satisfxction. 

Their living, a hundred years ago, was as simple as their dress. 
Meat, and bread and milk, were their principal dependence. Salt 
beef and pork, rye and Indian bread, beans, turnips and cabbages, 
constituted their daily fare. The potato being at that time in 
a great measure unknown, and rarely cultivated, the bean was 
extensively used, both as a solid and a liquid food ; so that bean- 
porridge was not only a household word, but a household repast. 
Tea was but little used, and coffee scarcely known. Beer and cider 
constituted their principal beverage ; though the bewitching drink 
of distilled spirits was indulged in on public occasions. 

In taking a survey of the past, not only the manners and 
customs, but the characters of our fathers naturally present them- 
selves. Without attempting a full analysis of their characters, we 
may safely say, that being men, they had their follies and infirmi- 
ties, and were characterized by the faults of the age in which 
they lived. I shall be pardoned, I trust, if I say a word on their 
religious character, which was the most salient point among our 
forefathers. That they were a religious people, no one can doubt ; 
and that their religion assumed a stern and uncompromising type. 



66 

is readily admitted. We may concede, too, that they were tinctured 
with superstition, and cherished, in some degree, a persecuting 
spirit. 

Let us contemplate their character as thus presented. Their 
habitual trust in God, and their abiding conviction that they had a 
great work to perform, amid difficulties and dangers, and were in 
a manner the appointed agents of the Most High, to establish a 
pure and vital religion in this wilderness, gave them an energy, a 
zeal, and persistency of character, which showed itself in their 
Avhole life. And if they manifested inordinate zeal, or exhibited 
too much sternness of character, these were but the infirmities of 
that vigorous faith which they so fondly cherished. And if they 
imbibed something of a persecuting spirit, they have the apology, 
that the spirit of toleration, and the virtue of forbearance, were in 
a great measure unknown in that age of the world. 

Our Fathers were in advance of the age in their ardent devotion 
to God, in their trust in divine Providence, and in their uncon- 
querable love of civil and religious liberty ; and it is requiring 
too much of them to expect perfection in all things, because they 
excelled in many. Admit, if you please, that they had defects of 
character ; they were the very defects which would naturally flow 
from their stern, manly virtues, and from the sphit of the age in 
which they lived. The part they had to act in the plan of divine 
Providence, led them to contemplate the Almighty in the character 
of a Euler, rather than that of a Father, and fitted them to perform 
the important duty of establishing our civil institutions on a 
broad, religious basis. Had they been less stern in their manners, 
less fixed in their principles, and more yielding and compromising 
in their policy, they would probably have failed in their grand 
enterprise, of founding a free state on the great principles of 
religion. 

Though we may find some things in their conduct to condemn, 
there are more to approve. Their stern, incorruptible integ- 
rity, their persistent perseverance, and their self-sacrificing spirit, 
have given to New England a character of which we may justly 
be proud. " History," it is said, " shows their faults." We 
rejoice that it does ; for this proves the fidelity of history, by show- 
ing that they were men. We rejoice that faithful historians have 
pointed out their failings as well as their manly virtues ; so that 
we may have many things to imitate, as well as a few things to 



67 

shun. And happy will it be for us, if after-generations can review 
our characters, with as few regrets, and with as much satisfaction 
as we experience, this day, when we contemplate the- characters of 
our ancestors. Give me the stern integrity, the fixed determina- 
tion, the manly, unconquerable perseverance, and the unfaltering 
faith of our Puritan ancestors, and I have the very materials of 
which to form characters which will stand in the day of ti'ial. Give 
me these, and I will readily dispense with the easy virtue, the 
compromising policy, and the etherial, speculative doublings of 
this age of boasted progress and refinement. 

Fellow Citizens of Westminster : 

Though I cannot claim kindred with your inhabitants, or 
boast of being born upon your soil, yet your town is endeared to 
me by a residence of a quarter of a century, and your people by a 
long, friendly, and intimate acquaintance. Here I have mingled 
with your people in every situation of life. I have stood by the 
bed-side of the dying, shed the sympathetic tear with the mourner, 
and followed some of your valued citizens to the grave. Plere I 
have visited your children in the schools, united some of you in 
bands of holy wedlock, and joined in your social circles. Here, 
too, I received the first testimonial of political confidence, which 
brought my name before a confiding and generous public, which 
for twenty-five years in succesion, sustained me in places of honor 
and of trust. 

There are associations of a more private and tender character, 
which ally me to this place. It was here that I commenced my 
domestic life, by assuming the interesting and responsible relations 
of a husband and a father. It was here, that, amid a tender and 
generous sympathy, I was called to part with my early companion 
and two endearing children, whose earthly remains rest beneath 
your soil. This town is the birth-place of my surviving children, 
who drew their first vital breath upon this consecrated Hill. 

The familiar faces I see before me ; the cordial greetings I have 
received this morning ; your beautiful natural scenery ; the trees by 
your road-sides ; "■ your rocks and your rills ; " your fresh and invig- 
orating atmosphere, whose gentle breezes move your leafy groves, 
and whose stronger blasts murmur through the bending branches 
of these aged elms ; the school-houses dedicated to the young, and 
the village spires pointing upward as if to guide us to heaven, or 



68 

draw down blessings upon our heads ; — these conspire to revive 
former recollections, and more youthful feelings, and create in my 
breast the emotions of the child who has returned to his father's 
house to spend a true and joyous Thanksgiving, in the old family 
mansion. 

And never, oh never, while memory remains, shall the recollec- 
tions of Westminster cease to retain a place in my thoughts and 
affections. And while many of her absent native sons have this 
day returned to lay their filial offering of joy and gratitude at her 
feet, I fondly hope that I may, without intrusion, join in the general 
tribute ; and, with them, unite in a fervent prayer for her future 
prosperity and happiness. 



APPENDIX. 



A LIST OF THE GRANTEES FOR TIIE NARRAGANSET TOWN- 
SinP, NO. 2, AS MADE UP IN 1732. 

CAMBRIDGE. 

William Russell, (then living.) 

Gershom Cutter, (then living.) 

Joseph Bemas, for his father, Joseph. 

Jonathan Remington, Esq., for his father, Capt. Remington. 

Downing Champney, for his father, Samuel. 

Jonathan Bathrick, for his father, Thomas. 

Peter Hay, for his brother-in-law, John Barrel. 

William Gleason, for his father, William. 

The heirs of John Smith. 

Samuel Smith, for his uncle, Samuel. 

The heirs of Joseph Smith. 

The heirs of Nathaniel Smith. 

The heirs of Thomas Brown. 

Jonathan Grates, for his father, Simon. 

Thomas Wellington, for his uncle, John. 

William Brattle, Esq., for his grandfather, Thomas Brattle. 

Daniel Cheever, for his uncle, James Cheever. 

CHARLESTOWN. 

James Lowden, (then living.) 

Samuel Read, (then living. ) 

Henry Sumers, (then living.) 

Robert Fosket, for his father, John. 

Thomas Skinner, for his uncle, Isaac Lewis. 

Samuel Fosket, for his father, Samuel. 

Samuel Long, for his uncle, Samuel Newell. 

Magry Dowse, for father, Joseph. 

Nathaniel Goodwin, for his uncle, Benjamin Lathrop, 

James Smith's heir, namely, Jonathan Call. 

Joseph Pratt's heirs. 



70 



Samuel Lanmon's heirs. 

William Burt's heirs. 

Jacob Cole's heirs. 

John Moseley's heirs. 

Humphrey Miller's heirs. 

John Hawkins's heirs. • 

John Trumbull's heirs. 

Alexander Phillips's heirs. 

George Mudge's heirs. 

John Shepherd's heirs. 

Thomas Welch's heirs. 

John Grind's heirs. 

Joseph Lynd's heirs. 

Timothy Cutler's heirs. 

James S. Little, for his father. 

Thomas Genner's heirs. 

John GrifSn, heir to Matthew Griffin. 

Ebenezer Breed, for his father, John. 

Zachariah Davis, for his uncle, Hopstil Davis. 

John Sprague, for his father, Jonathan. 

Eleazer Johnson, for his father, Edward. 

John Senter, for his father, John. 

WATERTOWN. 

John Sawin, for his father, Thomas. 

Ephraim Cutter, (then living.) 

Jonas Cutting, for his father, James. 

John Barnerd, (then living.) 

Joshua Bigelow, (then living.) 

William Shattuck, (then living.) 

Joseph Grout, for his father, Joseph Grout. 

Zachariah Smith, for his father, Jonathan Smith. 

Samuel Hager, for his father, John Hager. 

George Harrington's heirs. 

John Harrington, (then living.) 

Joseph Priest, for his father, Joseph. 

Zechariah Cutting, (then living.) 

John Bright, for his uncle, John. 

George Pametor, for his father, William. 

Joseph Ball, for his uncle, Jacob Bullard. 

Thomas Harrington, for his wife's father, Timothy Eice. 

John Sherman, for his uncle, John. 



' 



71 



Capt. Joseph Bowman, for his wife's uncle, James Bamercl, 

Joseph Smith, for his father, Joseph. 

Eichard Beers, for his father, Ehiathan. 

Michael Flag's heirs. 

Capt. Joseph Bowman, for his wife's father, John Barncrd. 

John Cuttino;, for his father, John Cuttino;. 

The heirs of Doct. Wellington. 

The heu's of Benjamin Wellington. 

WESTON. 

Ebenezer Boynton, for his wife's fatlier, Caleb Grout. 
Onesiphorus Pike, for his father, James Pike. 
Thomas Cory, for his father, Thomas. 
Nathaniel Norcross, for Jeremiah Norcross. 
Daniel Warren, (then living. ) 

SUDBURY. 

Matthew Gibbs, (then living.) 

Richard Taylor, for his father, Richard. 

Thomas Taylor, for his father, Sebred. 

John Marston, (then living.) 

John Parkhurst, for his father, John, 

Denis Hedly, (then living.) 

John Adams, (then living.) 

Benjamm Parmeter, for his brother, Joseph. 

Joseph Rutter, for his father, Thomas. 

Ebenezer Graves, for his father, Joseph Graves. 

John More, for his father, Joseph. 

NEWTON. 

Edward Jackson, for his father, Seborn. 

Nathaniel Haly, (then living.) 

Isaac Beech, for his brother, Richard Beech. 

Stephen Cook, (then living.) 

John Park, for his father, John. 

Jonathan Willard, for his ftither, Jacob. 

The heirs of Capt. Thomas Prentice. 

MEDFORD. 

WiUiam Willis, for his father, Thomas. 

John Hall, for Capt. SeiU. 

John Whitmore, for his father, John. 



72 



MALDEN. 

John Mudge, (then living.) 

Samuel Kneeland, assignee to Phineas Upham. 

Abraham Skinner, for his father, Abraham. 

James Cheak's heirs. 

John Winslow, for his father, John. 

William Willis, for the heirs of John Bacheler. 

READING. 

Nathaniel Parker, for his ixncle, Jonathan. 

Richard Brown, for his uncle, Edraon. 

Thomas Nichols, (then Hving.) 

Major Swain's heirs. 

Isaac Williams's heirs. 

Benjamin Davis's heirs. 

Samuel Lampson, for his father, Samuel. 

Thomas Hodgman's heirs. 

Richard Upham, for his father, Phineas. 

Samuel Chandler, for William Jones. 

A true Copy of Records in my Office. 

Attest. Samuel G. Kendall, Toivn Clerh. 
Westminster, Feb. 11, 1857. 



POEM, 



WILLIAM S . HAYWOOD 



Westminster, December 1, 1859. 
Mr. William S. Haywood : 

Dear Sir : — \Vc respectfully ask you for a copy of your Poem, delivered at our 
Centennial Celebration in October last, that it may be published with the Address 
and Proceedings connected with that event. 

With great respect, yours, 

BENJAMm WYMAN, 
JOEL MERRIAM, Jr. 
WILLIAM S. BRADBURY, 

Committee of Publication. 



Messrs. Wyman, Merriam, and Bradbury, 

Committee on Printing, igc. : 

Gentlemen: — Your favor of the 1st inst., received by due course of mail, is hereby 
acknowledged. I cheerfully comply with your request, to furnish for the press a copy 
of the Poem prepared and delivered by me at the Centennial Celebration of the Incor- 
poration of my native town, and herewith commit .to your hands the manuscript for 
the purpose designated. Happy in doing my part to render the occasion referred to 
pleasant and profitable, I am also happy in offering a tribute of good-will to the sons 
and daughters of old Westminster, with many of whom I was more or less intimately 
associated in former years, and of many of whom pleasing memories linger still to 
gladden and to bless. The production, which you seem disposed to dignify with the 
name of Poem, makes no pretension to poetical precision and finish ; it only claims 
the merit of being the simple, heartfelt outbreathing of the deeper and better feeling 
of the author. I present it to you and to those for whom you act, — to all the children 
of my native town, wherever they may be, in the hope that, while its more particularly 
local allusions and reflections may tend to revive and perpetuate many grateful asso- 
ciations, its general views of Man, Life, and Duty, may serve to stimulate to high 
resolve, lofty endeavor, and glorious achievement, in the pathway of all that is noble, 
and virtuous, and godlike. 

I am, Gentlemen, 

Yours, very respectfully, 

WM. S. HAYWOOD. 
Hopedale, Milford, Mass., December 7, 1859. 



POEM. 



Westminster celebrates to-day 
Her Hundredtli Anniversary. 
Proud in the fullness of her years, 
Her history telling in our ears, 
With speech, and poetry, and song, 
With festal pleasures that belong 
To such events, with wit and mirth. 
She justly honors now her birth. 
Out to the breeze her banner flings, 
Lays wide her store of bounteous things. 
Her messages of love sends forth 
To East and West, to South and North, 
Bidding her roaming children come, 
Visit once more their earlier home, 
And gather round her cheerful board. 
Laden with what her stores afford ; 
Seek ovit old friends and new relations, 
Revive the lost associations, 
Live yet again the mystic past 
From which Time hurries on so fast, 
The once familiar walks tread o'er, 
Retreats, hallowed in days of yore, 
And, 'mid the scenes of glad relmion. 
With greetings and with sweet communion. 
To find such welcome and such cheer 
As can but gladden many a year. 
And we are come ; the inviting word 
By our quite willing ears is heard. 
With joy we come, from near and far, 
Our heart's desire a guiding star, 



76 



From North and South, from West and East, 

To sit and share this natal feast. 

We come from many a varied sphere ; 

We come from new homes that are dear ; 

We come to bring a tribute meet, 

And lay at old Westminster's feet. 

For, in the divers walks and ways 

We've traveled since the former days. 

Through all the changes of our lot, 

We ne'er our native town forgot ; 

But, at the mention of her name. 

There always flashed a hidden flame 

Of grateful love within the breast — 

A quick response that made us blest. 

Yes, we are here, the wandering ones 

Whose course of duty elsewhere runs ; 

And those who, faithful, still remain 

The honored landmarks to maintain. 

We all are here — the father, mother. 

The son and daughter, sister, brother. 

The friends of near and distant tie, 

Met face to face, and eye to eye, 

Rejoicing in each other's love, 

In blessings from our God above. 

Yet all are not here ; there are some 

Who from their duties could not come ; 

Some, far away on land or sea, 

Have yet to learn of this day of glee ; 

Some waste in sickness, and some bless 

Their fellow-creatures in distress ; 

While others still, oppressed by want. 

Would fain be with us, but they can't. 

Hence, though we here are quite a host, 

The absent number far the most. 

They all tread not the shores of Time ; 

How many are in another clime ! 

Who hath no parent, child, or friend, 

Brother or sister, seen descend 

To the dark vale, the vale of death. 

Yielding up there the mortal breath ? 

Dark vale, indeed, save as the light 

Of Truth and Love makes all things bright. 



77 

With one fond thought to the mortal dear. 
And one to those of the unseen sphere, 
My muse would lead us still along 
To otlier themes by her humble song. 



A hundred years ! What hopes and fears, 
What joys and griefs, in a hundred years ! 
What changes — fortunes made and lost ! 
What woes, what feasts of Pentecost ! 
What crimes, what sacraments of blood ! 
What movements for all human good ! 
Kingdoms destroyed, thrones overturned. 
Empires laid waste, and cities burned ; 
Inventions nmltiplied, the hand 
Of Art enlivens every land. 
Philanthropies spring forth, and words 
Of truth contend for power with swords. 
New principles are born — not born, 
They live forever, tyrants' scorn. 
New light breaks forth with joy and love. 
As hastening seasons onward move. 
Men throughout earth grow good and wise. 
And in the scale of being rise. 
But who can tell all that appears 
As fruit of the last hundred years ! 
A hundred years have come and gone 
Since there was laid the corner-stone 
Of this, our native town ; the men — 
Oh, where are they who served her then V 
They come not here their tale to tell — 
(Tale other lips have told so well) — 
They've passed beyond their earthly lot ; 
Places that knew them, know them not. 
So we, too, their descendants, pass. 
As morning dew from waving grass. 
And, ere a century returns. 
The fire of mortal life that burns 
However brightly now, will die 
Within us, while goes rolling by 
The tide of being ever swelling. 
And deepening with divine indwelling. 






78 

Ah ! as life's onward march is beating, 
Leave we a story worth repeating, — 
A story other hearts to swell, 
That we have done our work so well ? 



Hail to our native place ! we bless her, 

And in our festal joy caress her. 

We come and filial homage pay 

On this her Anniversary. 

Why not ? 0, can we treat with scorn. 

Or hate the spot where we were born 'i 

No, no ! with heartfelt, glad acclaim, 

We'll chant our peans to her name. 

Whatever be our avocation, 

Or high or low our earthly station. 

Mechanic, Merchant, Farmer, Clown, 

Dependent, aided by the town, 

Shoemaker, Doctor, Lawyer, Preacher, 

Or Hostler, Painter, Blacksmith, Teacher, 

A Landlord, Baker, Saddler, Spinster, 

AVe'll honor give to old Westminster. 

Gifts to her altar will we bring ; 

Her many praises will we sing. 

Behold her in each outward feature 

A part of all-surrounding nature ; — 

A hand divine these hills among 

Laid her foundations deep and strong, 

And over them in order spread , 

A richer or a poorer bed 

Of earthy matter — mould or soil, 

Calling her sons to noble toil — 

From which, the customary courses 

Of nature's own inherent forces 

Give birth, with seeming exultation, 

To countless forms of vegetation. 

How pleasant and how fair of face 

Of varied beauty and of grace 

Westminster wears ! See hill and dell, 

Wliat nature's lovers love so well, 

See running streamlet, brook, or river, 

Which hastes the landscapes to dissever. 






79 



Here too are lakelets, forests, flowers. 

Quiet retreats and leafy bowers, 

While breathing zephyrs, fresh and clear, 

Oft come as from some purer sphere, 

Spread health and vigor all around, 

That joy and gladness may abound. 

And over all what fairer skies 

In solemn majesty can rise ! 

The sun by day, the moon by night. 

Each sheds its own peculiar light ; 

And stars look down from where they're set 

Like gems in nature's coronet. 

The same Aurora heralds day, 

Chasing the damps of night away. 

That breaks on fair Sicilian lands. 

Or gilds the morn on Italy's strands. 

In this old town, as in those places 

Renowned for storied charms and graces. 

The Great Unseen his power makes known. 

Ilis changeless goodness here hath shown, 

That tongue and raptured heart may tell, 

" Our Father doeth all things well." 



Westminster, — Is it more than meet 
We lay our offering at her feet ? 
Here had we birth ; our being's sun 
Here rose, its endless course to run ; 
Here opened we our infant eyes 
On beauties of both earth and skies ; 
Here were unsealed our infant ears 
To music of the outer spheres. 
And thus was launched our feeble bark 
Upon life's ocean, stormy, dark, 
Ofttimes, yet having more of good 
Than ill, if rightly understood. 
Here shared we first a parent's love, 
Hovering o'er us like a dove ; 
Experienced all the joys of home 
Ere cares and toils to us had come ; 
Here dawned, upon our inner sense 
Wisdom and love of Providence ; 



80 

Here went we forth in earlier days, 

Where wonders met our every gaze, 

To find delights that nature brings, 

To glory in her offerings. 

To catch her life, to feel the thrill 

She sent through all our heart and will, 

Inhale her breath, to hear her sound, 

Behold her glories spread around, 

And, by the paths the true have trod, 

Be led by her up to our God. 

And here, perhaps, wc earliest quaffed 

Of sorrow's deep and bitter draught, — 

Our very hearts asunder riven 

With shafts by sad affliction driven. 

But yet, whatever were our lot 

While dwelling on this cherished spot. 

Where'er we are, where'er we go 

In all this changing world below. 

Our souls will turn with gladsome thrills 

To this old town among the hills. 

And hallowed memories shall move 

Our hearts to earnest, filial love. 

And may not sweet emotions rise 

At thoughts of her, beyond the skies ? 

What farther tribute can we pay 

At our fond birthplace shrine to-day '? 

She may not boast of sons of fame, — 

Men who have gained a sounding name ; 

Of conquerors she may not boast, 

Leading to blood a murderous host ; 

Of geniuses, wondrous and rare. 

On whom a gaping world may stare ; 

Of mighty men, as men count might, 

Before whom others quake with fright ; 

She may not boast of children great, 

Beckoned by human estimate ; — 

Of sons, who have high rank or station 

In either Church, or State, or Nation ; 

Or daughters eminent, whose praise 

Is chanted in melodious lays. 

But, wanting these, 'tis no great loss. 

Since Christs and Saviors find a cross, 



81 

And men of loftiest purity 
Are left in lone obscurity 
As often as they wear a crown, 
AV'liile villains sometimes get renown, 
And it may be, though she can claim 
No son or daughter known to fame, 
She has what's better, honest men 
And women ; those who, measured when 
Strict justice holds the scale of thino-s. 
Shall stand before the Kino; of kin^s, — 
While others, only great in name. 
Fall down in self-reproach and shame. 
I trust that in the sight of Him 
Whose eye no show or sham can dim, 
There are, whom this old town can boast. 
Numbers whose worth exceeds all cost. 
Men they are of conscience, heart, 
AVho strive to act the better part ; — 
Women of sympathy and love, 
Faithful in spheres in which they move, 
Keady for each good work and word. 
Obeying their acknowledged Lord. 



But why should this occasion pass 
Without the mention of a class 
Of which our town may well be proud 'I 
It rises like a shining cloud 
Of witnesses, to do her honor. 
Laying its hands of blessing on her. 
Her native teachers — See, they stand 
With willing heart and ready hand. 
The claims of ignorance to dispute 
And " teach the young idea to shoot." 
A worthy company they arc. 
At home, abroad, or near, or for, 
Dispelling all the shades of niglit, 
Diffusing learning's ambient light. 
And helping Science to display 
The glories of her perfect day. 
Teachers, go on, a goodly band, 
FiXtend your influence o'er the land ; 
11 



82 

Your mission's high and noble, strive, 

With all your native powers alive, 

To do your duty faithfully. 

And scatter blessings great and free. 

Remember always, Education, 

Deserving of full acceptation. 

Regards not intellect alone, 

But makes all human parts its own ; — 

Relates to body, mind and soul, 

Training the powers of the whole ; 

Comprises health, intelligence, 

Virtue, aye, good common sense. 

To educate, is not to train 

To books simply ; this were but vain ; — 

'Tis not to give a little notion, 

A sort of Homoeopathic potion 

Of Reading, Spelling, Drawing, Writing, 

Coldly and formally reciting. 

To educate, — it is to make 

Men and women, for manhood's sake 

And womanhood's ; and all beside 

Is fruit of folly or of pride. 

Keep this in mind, to it be true. 

And priceless trophies are for you. 

In your endeavors, catch, if you can. 

The spirit of a Horace Mann. 
Lamented Mann ! Thy sun to earth too soon hath set. 
But its effulgence gilds our western horizon yet ; 
Thou'rt only gone before, our spirit's glad evangel. 
Earth mourns a Mann, but Heaven hath gained — how bright an angel ! 



Westminster, child incorporate 
Of Massachusetts, old Bay State. 
The old Bay State, how fair her name ! 
Deserves she well her world-wide fame, 
For where in all the earth around 
Is there an equal to be found, — 
Equal in heart, equal in mind. 
Equal in what exalts mankind ? 
Where is the province, where the state. 
Empire, or kingdom, small or great? 



83 



Search Asia's wide-spread territory, 

Or Europe's fields, far-famed and gory, 

Or Africa's hot, scorcliing sands, 

Anion fj; the new world's virgin lands : 

Your task a fruitless one will prove, 

For Massachusetts claims your love. 

Rough though her surface, hard her soil, 

Rock-bound her shores, inviting toil, 

Severe her climate, low her birth. 

She wears the crown of all the earth. 

Even though we mourn her soil not free 

To all who seek for liberty, 

To every trembling fugitive 

From chains, who 'neath her flag would live. 

What constitutes her greatness ? What, 

The meed of honor she has got ? 

'Tis not the glory of an hour, 

'Tis not her wealth, 'tis not her power 

Of arms or law, 'tis not her trade, 

Her commerce o'er all seas displayed, 

'Tis not the fabric that she makes. 

Or works of Art she undertakes, 

'Tis not her forests, rivers, fields. 

The products that her tillage yields ; 

But 'tis her character, her spirit. 

Noble and true, that gives her merit. 

Upon her altars bum the fires 

That light the hideous funeral-pyres 

Of ancient error, crime, and wrong. 

By fashion, fame, and law made strong. 

Was it not on her sea-lashed shores 

The Pilgrims left their weary oars. 

Casting their chains of soul behind, 

On this forbidding soil to find. 

Where barbarous men before had trod, 

Freedom to serve and worship God ? 

Has history's voice not reached our ear, 

Or, reaching, have we scorned to hear 

What fearful dangers they did dare, 

The rights of conscience here to share ? 

'Twas Duty's voice their souls had heard, 

Demanding that God's living Word 



84 



Be honored, reverenced, and obeyed, 

Before all laws that man had made. 

And to earth's tjrants of every name, 

Civic or cleric, 'twas all the same, 

King, Emperor, Prince, Bishop, or Priest, 

Whatever wore the mark of the Beast, — 

To all they hurled a bold defiance, 

God and the Right their sole reliance. 

For Conscience' sake, at Duty's call, 

They dared, endured, and suffered all ; 

And daring, suffering, self-denying, 

They triumphed gloriously, though dying. 

We claim not for them full perfection. 

Their faults do not escape detection ; — 

They lighted persecution's fire 

Against the Quaker, Mary Dyer, 

And Williams, not of their persuasion, 

They sent to Providence plantation. 

But, notwithstanding all their wrongs, 

Much honor to their name belongs 

For their fidelity ; their sense 

Of Right was their Omnipotence ; 

And their strong blood has given birth 

To sons and daughters of great worth, — 

To men of spirit, men of soul. 

Men who the fates themselves control, 

To men of courage, men of toil. 

Men who at truth never recoil. 

To men who heed the living Word, 

Disciples of a living Lord, 

To men of principle and will, 

Men, though opposed, who are faithful still, 

To men that dare be out of Fashion 

Though all the Grundys are in passion. 

To men prepared to do and die 

For justice, truth, and liberty. 

In this renowned old Pilgrim State, 

Fresh thought,. ideas circulate ; 

Inventions new spring into life, 

And all the useful arts are rife. 

Here Science finds rapt devotees 

Who would all lore of nature seize, 



85 



And Tcaise a temple to the skies, 
Which should attract the joyful eyes 
Of wondering nations, while from far 
People should hail the beaming star. 
Here learning sends her blessings down 
To the humblest child of every town ; 
None so insane and none so blind, 
"Who cannot an asylum find ; 
While every moral, social good 
Is sought and somewhat understood. 
Humanity, with all her woes, 
Torn by a thousand, thousand foes. 
Turns hither in her half despair 
And breathes her sad but earnest prayer. 
Nor hither turns and prays in vain ; 
At what she sees, takes heart again. 
Philanthropy, with ready hands, 
Would lavish blessings on all lands. 
React the Good Samaritan 
To every suffering, needy man, 
And bring the reign of peace and love 
Down from the realms of bliss above. 
And in the ever waging fight 
For Truth and Justice and the Right, 
Among the heroes strong and bold. 
Who, though now scorned, shall be enrolled 
On the Future's scroll of merited fame. 
There's many a Massachusetts name. 
For every such, wherever he be. 
Of known or unknown pedigree, 
A monument more lustrous than gilt. 
More lasting than marble, shall yet be built 
In the hearts of grateful generations, 
In the lives of coming states and nations, — 
A monument that shall endure 
When Bunker Hill's is known no more. 
Old IMassachusetts, — her renown 
To years unnumbered shall go down ; 
Her light, her love, her liberty, 
Shall bless the ages yet to be. 
But thoughts merely local should never engage 
Our whole mind and heart in this stirring age ; 



86 



So pass we on hence to more general things, 
To topics my muse the more cheerfully sings. 



There arc questions pressing on us, 

Questions deep and questions high, 

Questions on whose faithful answer 

Rests our future destiny. 

Shall wc give them our attention, 

Heeding well their inward sense ? 

Or, ignoring, blind and stolid. 

Boldly scorn Omnipotence ? 

'Tis God's angel to us puts them, 

'Tis his voice the silence breaks. 

Hark ! I hear the meaning accents 

Of the Providence that speaks. 

" What is man, and what existence? 

What the end of labor here ? 

What is meant by human duty ? " 

Eings the voice out soft yet clear. 

" AnsAver, child of thought and feeling. 

Answer with thy lip and life, 

Answer with thy heart-aspirings. 

Answer with thy soul's stern strife." 

In the spirit of devotion. 

In the mind of trust and love. 

We take up the urgent queries 

Our fidelity to prove. 



What is man, — his real nature ? 
What are his inherent powers ? 
What the being God hath made him,- 
Dweller on this globe of ours ? 
Is he but a mushroom creature, 
Springing upward for a day ? 
Some strange fungus of existence, 
Meteor-like mystery ? 
Is he like the beasts that perish, 
Traveling downward to the dust ? 
Or, like some old feudal castle, 
Subject to time's corroding rust ? 



87 

Being of but trifling value, 
Like the things of earth and sense ? 
Being to be held and trafficked 
In the scale of pounds and pence ? 
Being to be ground to powder 
'Neath oppression's niiglity weight V 
Being to be foully slaughtered 
By harsh violence and hate ? 
Victim of a proud ambition V 
Sport of tyrants or of fiends V 
Used, like dead, unconscious matter. 
To promote base, selfish ends ? 
Is this man, as God hath made him, 
Man in bis inherent soitl, 
Man that was, is, shall be ever, 
While the ages onward roll ? 
List, my Muse, the deep responses 
Fall upon the inward ear, 
Haste to catch them, and interpret 
What the meaning that they bear. 



The Infinite Creator, in his wonder-working plan, 

Hath crowned with noble nature the being we call man ; 

Though seeming frail and feeble, often lost in sin's dark night, 

He yet may upward, onward move in everlasting flight. 

What gifts are his, within the realm of intellect and soul ! 

What agencies are in his hand, that Destiny control ! 

Though struggling on the shores of time, before him is the portal 

Of an unending life beyond — the life that is immortal. 

He on his destined way may go, in never-tiring marches. 

Swelling the songs that echo through the everlasting arches. 

Behold, in outward, earthly form, what excellencies shine ! 

For poets truly speak and sing of " human form divine." 

The hero of all history, of all below the bead, 

The centre round which things of earth their full-orbed circuits speed. 

Strike man from out the rolling years, and what a blank were tliere ! 

What other loss can be conceived that with it could compare ! 

Tlie ages in majestic pomp would come, and, passing, go. 

But wherefore ? 0, what tongue can tell, what mortal mind can know ! 

When God gave man existence, calling him from chaos' night, 

He granted him a portion of His own all-powerful might. 



88 

That he, the creature and the child, all noble toil might share 

With Him, Creator, Lord of all, who worketh everywhere. 

Behold the deeds man's hand hath wrought in the outward creation, 

Thus introducing to the earth a better dispensation ; — 

The barren fields he cultivates, and fairer landscapes rise, 

The rugged wilds to gardens turn, that bless beholding eyes ; 

Where thorns and brambles grow and thrive, springs yellow, waving grain. 

And so broad wastes and deserts change to Eden come again ; 

Wild beasts forsake their native dens, their roars forever cease, 

And human habitations stand in beauty and in peace. 

God gives a river, island, bay ; man sets himself to work. 

And lo ! as by some magic power, appears the great New York ; 

A small peninsula he gives to man's industrious hands, 

And Boston rises on the sight, the light of many lands ; 

The forces of the outer world his servants he enrolls. 

Unlocks the mysteries of time for the welfare of all souls ; 

The hidden power of fire and water at his word comes forth. 

An agency more potent than the Mastodons of earth. 

Which carries him o'er land or sea, or here or there at will, 

And multiplies in countless ways his own effective skill ; 

Lightning he makes his errand-boy, the winds his harnessed steeds, 

With sunbeams he his portraits paints, — such are his marvelous deeds. 

But not alone to matter is his capacity confined ; 

The greater his achievements in the spacious realm of mind ; — 

He gathers up from all the past, its wisdom, light, and lore. 

And brings out from the present what was never known before. 

Old Egypt with her idol hands, her early treasures yields ; 

And Greece, the many precious gems of her rich, classic fields ; 

And Rome, whose eloquence and power shook Capitoline hill ; — 

All these, each with peculiar gifts, his mental storehouse fill ; 

While other nations, tribes, and tongues, their ready tribute bring, 

And humbly lay it at his feet, a free-will offering. 

Nor delves he always in the old, but finds new trophies still 

Rewarding him, as on he toils up Science' rugged hill. 

He reads in Geologic facts, in sand-stone, coal and granite. 

The mighty works of nature's God, on this our native planet. 

The wondrous changes that occurred in ante-human ages. 

Ere history, with careless pen, had blotted yet her pages. 

Or, leaving earthly things behind, the realms of space explores, 

And visits regions far away, creation's other shores. 

Discovers worlds and peoples them, and numbers all their years, 

And marks the power, wisdom, love, that guides the circling spheres. 



89 

Nor pause we here ; for better ends and higher conquests lie 
Within the reach of him that's made for Immortality. 
Greater than intellect alone, than genius, reason, skill ; 
Man has another nature, he has power of choice and will. 
Of love and aspiration, of virtue, goodness, right, — 
The loftier expressions of the everlasting might. 
Ho is a moral being — he a spirit in his birth ; 
His needs and sphere of action outreach the bounds of earth ; 
He plays the harp of thousand strings, with discords harsh and bestial. 
Or else, attuned by skillful hands, to symphonies celestial. 
He judgment has of right and wrong, of what is good and evil, 
And chooses he whom he will serve, or God, or self, or devil. 
His power of ill, of deadly hate, of cruelty and crime, 
Exhibited in all his course adown the stream of time, 
Is counterparted by his power of holiness and love. 
Which, in the wise designs of Heaven, his real worth must prove. 
No Nero, full of lies and sin, debauchery and shame. 
Who might not for himself have won the meed of heavenly fame; 
No Cassar, full of war, driven by ambition's mad behest, 
But might have won, in holier strife, the victories of the blest. 
A Saul of Tarsus, breathing out fierce threatenings and rage 
Against the new religion of more than prophet, priest or sage, 
In Paul, the brave Apostle to the scattered Gentile race. 
Appears with lovely radiance illumining his face. 
And all the holy men and saints, God's sacramental host, 
But indicate capacities that man, as man, may boast. 
To conquer self, to bring to order, passion, appetite. 
To train the soul to Christian truth, to principle and right. 
To rise above temptation's power, to stem the tide of ill. 
To humble at the throne of God the strong and stubborn will, — 
This, man may do — all this, and more ; he holds the potent charm 
By which the mighty wrongs of earth shall stay their blighting arm ; 
He has the word which, if he speak, shall be at once obeyed, 
'Tis "Thus far. Evil, shalt thou come— here be thy proud waves stayed; ' 
And War, and Tyranny, and Lust, would then forever cease. 
And all the realms of earth be filled with purity and peace. 
He holds the futures in his grasp, the coming states and nations, 
And moulds at will, for weal or woe, advancing generations. 
Aye, such is man, the child of God, as runs the Christian story, 
Created for exalted ends, for honor and for glory. 
With eye of faith, he views the scenes on the eternal shore, 
With heart of hope and love, aspires to life forevermore ; 
12 



90 

To those companionships and joys that once below were riven, 

To be revived and shared again within the gates of Heaven ; 

To beings, sanctified and pure, where mortal hath not trod ; 

To realms of light and joy and peace, the bosom of his God. 

Though born on earth, he yet may rise in spirit, pure and free, 

And claim his mansion in the skies for all eternity. 

The earth, with all its mighty works, may run into decay ; 

The heavens like a scroll be rolled, and, fearful, pass away ; 

The rock-ribbed mountains bow their heads, the hills may take their flight, 

And sun and moon and stars, grown dim, be lost in blackest night : 

All nature and all systems into one vast ruin hurled, 

And not a single pile be left, of universe or world ; 

Yet man shall live, surpassing all, in God's far-stretching spheres. 

Nor reach the limit of his powers through rolling, endless years. 

" Such is man," the voices echo, 

Clearly 'mid the din and strife ; 

Yet once more I hear the query, 
" What, oh, answer, what is life ! " 

Aye, what is life — man's truest life — life worthy of the name. 

That shall secure the human soul from dire remorse and shame ; 

That aids it in its lawful course, its ever-rising way, 

And realizes to it God's appointed Destiny ? 

He only lives, who liveth well ; who gives supreme control, 

To Him, by whose eternal law the universes roll ; 

Who is forever cognizant of what he is within, — 

His own inherent nature, though debased by self and sin ; 

Employs his energy and skill to lofty ends and aims. 

And, in his every word and deed, his noble worth proclaims. 

The vital forces of his soul, with operative might, 

Subdue all passion, lust, and pride, all carnal appetite ; 

With pure affection, high resolve, with purpose firm and strong, 

He stands, in his integrity, against all forms of wrong ; 

Of Christ-like spirit, meek and mild, he holds to right and good. 

And looks on all the human race as on a brotherhood. 

Life is not sham, to spend one's years in artificial seeming ; 

It is to he, in heart and life, frank, honest, self-redeeming. 

Such, such is life, is glorious life ; all else is but appearing 

To live, it is to vegetate, all godlike senses searing ; 

'Tis famishing for wholesome bread ; to live to self and ease, 

To cat, to drink, to sleep, this is on emptiness to seize, 

To lie in idle sluggishness, as swiney beasts do lie ; 



91 

Tt is to feed on husks and chaff, to pine away and die. 

To live to show, to vain display, to gain a place or station ; 

To seek, in all one's walks and ways, to save a reputation ; 

To live to Mammon, or to greed of any kind or name. 

Is perishing to noble things, in ignorance and shame. 

And when God strips such of their shams, their simple incidents, 

Their silk and satin, broadcloth, starch, their shillings, pounds, and pence. 

Their rank, their fame, their self-conceit, the power that they wield, 

Of all but just their naked selves, when character 's revealed. 

Oh, what a spectacle there'll be, to angels and to men ! 

What self-reproaches and disgrace, what dark forebodings, then ! 

And they who give themselves and all to baser, viler ends, 

With envy, pride, and vengeful hate, make willing, steadfast friends ; 

Who plunge deep into open vice, debauchery and crime — 

Foul moths upon the silken flag, the floating folds of time ; 

Who thrive on others' miseries, who pour a constant flood 

Of woe and wretchedness around, their garments stained with blood ; 

Tyrants and steel-clad conquerors, who trample to the dust, 

Or slaughter still their fellow-men, obedient to their lust, — 

Live such as they"^ Worse than in vain, they live to wicked uses, 

And all their strength perpetuates man's vices and abuses. 

Perverted all their wondrous powers of body, mind, and soul, 

Oh, who shall envy them their lot, when Justice shall unroll 

Her lengthy catalogue of sins, of outrages and wrongs. 

And ply her retributions with their seven-scorpioned thongs ? 

Who can put oflf the law of God ? What soul with madness driven, 

Self-deified, shall set at nought the statutes of high Heaven ? 

Who does it, Man, or Church, or State, a fearful hazard runs. 

As if yon planetary orbs were hurled from central suns. 

Who lives to else than virtue's ends, scorning wisdom's peai'ls, 

And giving passion mastery, himself to ruin hurls. 

Wreck of a man ! Oh, what a wreck ! Behold it, as it lies, 

Where should, in stately majesty, a glorious manhood rise ! 

There are in other lands than ours, as many tourists say, 

Temples and cities, here and there, fast crumbling to decay. 

Once rising beautiful and fair, designed with wondrous art, 

With architectural taste and skill displayed in every part. 

Their shining turrets towering high, their galleries and halls, 

And ornaments, both rich and rare, upon their ample walls, — 

How splendid in tiieir proper day, wrought with such perfect skill ! 

Tlaough they in desolation lie, how splendid are they still ! 

Column and capital and tower, dome, architrave, pilaster, 

And arches, statues, paintings, busts, the works of some old master. — 



92 

A broken, crumbling mass they lie, a ruin vast and great, 

The mind is struck with awe and dread, the wreck to contemplate. 

But ah, a human wreck ! a wreck of God's immortal child ! 

A blasted soul, a heart given up to devastations wild ! — 

What wreck of temples, cities, states, with that can well compare ! 

Wreck over which demons may send a howl of mad despair. 

While angels, from their lofty hights, behold with tear-dimmed eye, 

And heave from bosoms pitiful, a deep, unuttered sigh, 

And only find repose, at last, as hallelujahs swell, 

The God of Wisdom, God of Love, " He doeth all things well." 

But what of life ? It is not tame, not spiritless, and dull, 

'Tis vigorous and heroic, of active labor full. 

It gathers up the goods of earth, not selfishly and vain. 

But renders them all doubly good, by scattering them again 

Where they shall carry comfort, peace, and blessing in their train, 

Supplying many a rising need, and soothing many a pain. 

It shares the real joys of time, the beauties spread around. 

The Wisdom and the Love of God, wherever they are found. 

The grassy mead, the rising hill, the wide, outstretching plain. 

The pastures green, the fields of corn, of waving, yellow grain. 

The snow-capped mountain, awful, grand, with ravine dark and fell, 

The forest deep, the glassy lake, the quiet, smiling dell. 

The murmuring brook, the cataract, the rushing, foaming river, — 

In all, it sees the steadfast love and bounty of the Giver. 

And sun and moon and planetary systems, as they roll 

In might and majesty above, awaken in the soul 

The loftier sentiment of praise, of grateful adoration 

To Him who, though invisible, yet reigns throughout creation ; 

Who, in his tender mercy, gives his human children free 

Entrance to the unmeasured realms of his immensity. 

Life uses well the gifts of mind, scorns not the power of thought, 

Ignores no worthy victory that genius' hand hath wrought, 

Pays tribute at the court of Art, and Reason's counsels heeds, 

And summons all the intellect to wise and useful deeds ; 

Yet makes all else subservient to Virtue and to Right, 

Thus clothes itself forevermore with God's own moral might. 

The living soul breathes Heaven's air, and drinks from founts supernal ; 

It feeds on holy angels' food — the bread that is eternal ; 

From trials sad and burdensome, from sorrows lone and drear. 

Extracts some precious nectar the Father mingled there. 

Yes, life is active, everywhere, it breaks the galling chains 

Of Bigotry, and overturns blind Superstition's fanes ; 

Is ever ringing out the old, and ringing in the new. 



93 

And seeks to installate the Good, the Beautiful, and True. 

Bids Sin depart, and Righteousness, whose right it is to reign, 

To come and bless the fallen world with Brotherhood again. 

Sucli life is blessed ; it is full of hope and trust and joy ; 

Purer than earthly pleasure, it exists without alloy ; 

And he alone can share it, who, in singleness of heart. 

Makes Justice, Purity, and Love, his wiser, better part. 

Whoe'er hath tasted of its sweets, by humble aspiration, 

Whoe'er hath felt its potent strength, by earnest consecration. 

Hath found a peace that passeth far all mortal understanding, 

Hath gained a power more noble than all temporal commanding. 

Life is aggressive ; it goes forth a moral war to wage, 

And, in the strife for God and man, is ready to engage ; 

Fears not on every kind of wrong to make a bold attack, 

And drives all shameful practices from its own chosen track ; 

Beats back the flaming flood of ill that threatens human weal, 

And treads the serpent Selfishness beneath its conquering heel ; 

Brings down to earth, for all mankind, the grace that is perennial. 

And heralds in the coming day, the glorious day millennial. 

Life that is normal, lofty, pure, inspired by heavenly breath, 

Strengthened by faith, and cheered by hope, sees no such thing as death ; 

For death, to it, is only change from lower sphere to higher. 

Where Heaven strikes up forevermore its own harmonious lyre. 

And one majestic chorus swells, through every shining mansion, 

And souls grow more and more like God, in glorious expansion. 

" This is life," repeat the whispers. 
Speaking with their silent power. 
And they tell us, " Learn of Duty 
In the Lesson of the hour." 

What Lesson, then, does Providence 
Give to our inner, better sense ? 
'Tis this, — Be manly, noble, true. 
Keep Justice, Righteousness in view. 
Humble in heart, single in mind. 
To selfish ends be not inclined, 
But let thy soul with love embrace 
In its desires the human race. 
In every deed, in every word, 
Let God's own voice by thee be heard. 
Keep a pure conscience ; never dare 
Allow a stain of treachery there ; 



94 



Spurn from thy presence shame and lies, 

All Heaven-cursed hypocrisies. 

By the strong power of self-control, 

Rule each department of thy soul. 

And, as, on our New England strand, 

The Eternal, with his mighty hand, 

Hath over-arched those central fires 

Whose pentrup fury never tires 

With granite masonry, firm and sure, 

Which through time's changes shall endure, — 

So, over passion, lust, and pride. 

That threaten ill on every side. 

Those hidden flames that, fell and dire, 

Rage with more than volcanic ire, 

Build, as with arm of vigorous youth, 

The solid masonry of Truth — 

Of moral principle, the Rock 

That shall resist the sternest shock. 

So, strengthened with that conquering Might 

That's coupled with eternal Right, 

Go forth, in love and hope and trust. 

To wage the warfare of the just ; 

To spread around, broad-cast and free, 

The seed of bright Futurity. 

Is there a wrong to be resisted ? 

A worthy cause to be assisted ? 

With ready heart, oh, be thou nigh, 

Prepared to labor, suffer, die. 

Is there a trembling, bleeding slave ? 

Thy hand, be it stretched out to save. 

A fugitive, hunted and lone ? 

Spurn law and court, be mercy done. 

Is there a bloated, staggering sot? 

Let not his case pass by, forgot. 

Is there a fallen wife or sister ? 

Do what thy soul may find to assist her. 

Does fearful want oppress the poor ? 

Be there a helper at thy door. 

Do wars prevail, rapine increase ? 

Be Christ's disciple, speak for Peace. 

Whatever is corrupt or vile. 

That soul or body may defile ; 

Whatever selfish, base, unjust, 



95 



Trampling God's image in the dust ; 

Whatever habit, custom, fashion, 

Is built on pride, caprice, or passion ; 

Whatever popular institution, 

In Church or State, needs revolution ; 

Whatever hoary-headed crime 

There be, bearing the marks of Time ; 

Whatever ignorance, vice, or sin. 

Human affliirs still lurks vyithin ; — 

Abhorred of God, hostile to man. 

In battle with it, he thou in the van. 

Nor in thy labor e'er despair. 

For God vrill heed thy earnest prayer, 

Nor shalt thou justly once complain 

That thou hast done thy work in vain. 

Thou may'st not find a bed of down ; 

Men may not weave tliy brow a crown ; 

Nor glad hosannas meet tliine ear. 

As onward move thy high career ; 

Thou may'st be made to feel the fire 

That persecution lights to flame the pyre 

Of martyred prophets, saints, and sages, 

Whose ashes fertilize the ages ; 

Thou may'st even die, what's that to thee, 

child of Immortality ! 

Thou hast but to be fiiithful, still 

Concerned to do thy Father's will ; 

For Duty done, be it confessed. 

With God you can leave all the rest. 

Nor seek for famous works, or great, 

As men count such, but consecrate 

Thyself to goodness, be thy lot 

Lofty or lowly, it matters not. 

The tiniest flower beneath our feet 

May for God's Paradise be meet ; 

From humblest cottages may rise 

Dwellers of mansions in the skies ; 

The meekest soul may strike the strings 

That vibrate to the King of kings ; 

And some low, plaintive cadence here. 

May swell in accents grown more clear, 

Till, caught by flaming tongues above 

That chant forevermorc in love. 



96 

It echoes through the realms that lie 
Beneath the everlasting sky. 
All things are in the hands of Him 
Who, throned amid the seraphim, 
Yet lives in all unfolding life. 
And who, in every manly strife. 
Whatever be the earthly degree, 
Awards the meed of victory. 
To the true soul, there is no defeat, 
There is no dismay, there is no retreat, 
Success is sure, forever appears 
The triumph of the coming years; 
A triumph glorious, pure, divine. 
Whose trophies through all ages shine. 

But the hours of our Jubilee hasten away. 

And my Muse must resign her tremulous lay. 

No more may we dwell on these loftier themes, 

Whence mortals may catch some radiant gleams 

From the sunlight of Wisdom, of Power, and of Love, 

W^hich shines so resplendently ever above. 

That sunlight which shall all darkness dispel, 

Send ignorance down to its own native hell, 

Banish all falsehood, lies, and crime, 

From this beautiful earth to the Gehenna of time. 

That the kingdoms of earth, with a hearty accord, 

IMay become the dominions of Jesus our Lord, 

While angels descending, with rapture again 

Sing, "Glory to God, peace, good will among men." 

It is well that we bathe in those glorious beams. 

They quicken the soul with the grace that redeems ; 

They cleanse from the dross and corruptions of earth. 

And fill with a spirit divine in its birth. 

Transforming frail man, child of sense and of sin, 

To an angel of God, prepared to go in 

And out before Him with service and praise. 

Here on earth, or beyond, unto endless days. 

Drinking deeper and deeper at the infinite fountain. 

Climbing higher and higher the glory-capped mountain, 

Finding always and aye, abundantly more 

Of joy and delight than conceived of before, 

And swelling the anthems, full-toned and free, 

Of the grand orchestra of eternity. 



rROCEEDINGS 



WESTMINSTER CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 



A NUMBER of the citizens of Westminster, desirous of cele- 
brating the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Incorporation 
of the Town, held several informal meetings, to consider the sub- 
jeet ; and adopted measures to ascertain the wishes and views of 
the inhabitants in relation to such a Celebration. Finding the 
people favorable to this measure, it was though desirable that the 
Town should take corporate action upon the subject. Conse- 
quently, a legal meeting of the inhabitants was called, when the 
Town expressed their approval of the contemplated Celebration, 
and chose a Committee of Fifteen, with full power to make the 
necessary arrangements to carry their resolution into effect. 

They also generously voted, that the Committee be authorized 
to cause the Address and Proceedings to be published, at the ex- 
pense of the Town, and circulated among the inhabitants, if they 
should deem it expedient. 

The following gentlemen were chosen as a 

COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS. 

Joel Merriam, Jr. Daniel C. Miles, 

Charles A. Forbush, Benjamin F. AVood, 

Theodore Whitney, Benjamin Wyman, 

JosiAH Page, Franklin Howe, 

Caleb S. Merriam, William S. Bradbury, 

Calvin Whitney, James C. Clarke, 

A. Miller, A. Merriam, 
John Minott. 

13 



98 

The Committee of Arrangements having taken measures to secure 
an Address and Poem — and having engaged a Caterer, and made 
such other arrangements as were deemed necessary — selected the 
following gentlemen as Officers of the Day. 

President. 

Benjamin Wyman. 

Vice Presidents. 

William S. Bradbury, Jonas Miller, 

George Miles, Edward Bacon, 

Samuel G. Kendall, B. F. Wood, 

Joel Merriam, Aaron Wood, 

Manasseh S. Forbush, Stillman Brooks, 

Anson Spaulding, Franklin Wyman, 
D. Whitney. 

Toast-Masters. 

Daniel C. Miles, Frederick Allen. 

Chief Marshal. 

John Minott. 

Assistant Marshals. 

Joseph W. Forbush, A. B. Holden, 

Daniel C. Miles, James R. Bruce, 

Artemas Merriam, Franklin Howe, 

P. C. Brown, C. S. Merriam, 

Joseph M. Whitman, Major Page, 

A. Whitney. 

Clerks. 

Dr. Clinton Warren, Charles H. Stearns. 

Though Westminster was Incorporated on the 20th of October, 
1759, the Committee deemed it advisable to select an earlier day, 
for their Celebration, for various reasons ; but principally to avoid 



99 

any interference with the inhabitants of the adjoining town of 
Princeton, who, it was understood, Avould celebrate their Anniver- 
sary on the 20th. To avoid all inconvenience arising from this 
source, and to enable those who were desirous of attending both 
Celebrations, to do so, the Committee selected the 6th of October 
for their gathering. 

Westminster having no Military Company, the Firemen of the 
town kindly volunteered to perform the escort duty ; and inter- 
changing a civility with the Gardner Firemen, invited their two 
Companies to join them on the occasion, and lead the Procession. 

The day preceding the Celebration was remarkably fine, and 
every thing looked propitious. A large Tent had been pitched on 
the Common, and extensive tables were laid for the repast. A 
stage had been erected on the Hill for the Speakers, under the de- 
pending, but leafless branches of the large elms which grace the 
Common, and which had withstood the storms and the tempests 
for nearly, if not quite a century. The Firemen had also made 
preparation for a trial of their skill and the power of their machines, 
on the morning of the 6th, before the Procession had formed. 
They had erected their target-pole, which towered above the steeple 
of the Congregational Church in the village. Large flags were 
suspended across the street in various places, which, with the stars 
and stripes thrown to the breeze from the Tent on the Hill, gave 
to the whole village a gala-day appearance. Absent citizens were 
returning to the place of their nativity, joy lighted up every coun- 
tenance, and all looked with pleasing anticipation to the pageantry, 
festivities, and cordial greetings of the coming day. 

Morning came, — and the rising sun, as it shed its early rays 
on the pleasant village, beheld its fine natural scenery tastefully set 
ofi" by artificial decorations, and its usually quiet streets filled by 
the citizens of the town, and the absent sons and daughters of 
Westminster, who had returned once more to their native place, to 
lay their offerings on the altar of their ancestors. Invited guests 
and citizens from the neighboring towns were flocking to the vil- 
lage, to participate in the joys and festivities of the day. The citi- 
zens of Gardner, a portion of whose territory was formerly included 
in Westminster, participated largely in the pleasures of the occa- 
sion. With a filial regard for the parent in whose lap they had 
been nurtured, they honored the day by their presence, and con- 
tributed much to the interest of the occasion. 



100 

At an early hour, the fine Engine Companies were on the ground. 
The Cataract, No. 1, of Gardner, numbering sixty-seven men, 
commanded by Mr. Bowman Clarke, and accompanied by the 
Gardner Cornet Band ; the Torrent, No. 2, of South Gardner, 
numbering seventy men, under command of Mr. Samuel Bently, 
accompanied by Fisk's Cornet Band, from Worcester, in connection 
with Westminster Company, No. 1, commanded by Mr. James R. 
Clarke, numbering ninety men, and accompanied by the Fitchburg 
Cornet Band, assembling with their Engines tastefully decorated 
with flowers and evergreens, made an imposing appearance, and 
gave a lively interest to the occasion. They were all dressed in 
their respective uniforms, and were fondly anticipating that trial of 
firemen prowess, so animating to themselves, and so pleasing to the 
beholders. 

But the fresh breeze from the North-west, which was invigora- 
ting in the early morning, soon stiffened into a gale, and blew with 
such a constant and uninterrupted current through the day, as to 
destroy the sport of the firemen, and greatly impair all the antici- 
pated pleasures of the occasion. So powerful was the gale as to 
endanger the Tent upon the Common ; and " mine host " felt the 
necessity of adopting the requirement of the Prophet : " Spare not, 
lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes," — and even then, 
though he kept his tent standing, it did not escape all injury. The 
flags, which at an early hour were playing so gracefully in the 
breeze, were soon increasing in number by diminishing in size, and 
were hauled down to save them from utter destruction. And while, 
with full hearts and eager interest, thousands of persons were ex- 
changing their cordial greetings and friendly salutations, clouds of 
dust were blinding their eyes, and teaching them the all-important 
truth, that we are subject to Him " who maketh the clouds his 
chariot, and who walketh upon the wings of the wind." 

But notwithstanding the unpropltious character of the day, the 
programme was carried out as far as practicable. The booming of 
a hundred guns in the morning, had announced a festive day, and 
the gladsome peals, reverberating from hill to hill, had sent forth 
a cordial welcome to numerous natives of the place, returned to 
visit the home of their childhood, and the Hill where their parents 
worshiped, — and they must not be disappointed. 

At ten o'clock the Procession was formed, at the Town Hall, 
under the direction of the Chief Marshal, John Minott, assisted 



101 

by his Deputies, and by Levi Heywood, Esq., of Gardner, who 
marshaled the Delegation from his town. The Procession moved 
in the following Order : 

1 

The Engiue Companies, accompanied by their Bands, 

as an Escort. 

2 

The Committee of Arrangements. 

The President of the Day, Orator, and Chaplain. 

4 
The Vice Presidents. 

5 
The Rev. Clergy, Invited Guests, and Representatives 

of the Press. 

6 
The Westminster Choir. 

7 
Citizens of Gardner. 

8 
Citizens at Large. 

Forming one peculiar feature of the Procession, were the Rep- 
resentatives of a former generation, among whom was the venera-' 
ble Deacon David Whitney, in the ninety-third year of his 
age. The Procession moved to the Common, where a Speakers' 
Stand had been erected, and seats furnished for the accommodation 
of the company, who had assembled to the number of about twenty- 
five hundred. Here, among the relics of antiquity exhibited by 
Deacon Whitney, was an A7-m Chair, the property of his mother, 
manufactured in England, two hundred years ago, and brought 
by her to Westminster, one hundred and six years ago.* 

The exercises at the Stand, commenced with Music from the 
Band, followed by a Voluntary by the Choir ; Reading of the 

* His mother was Tabitha Merriam, from Lexington, daughter of Thomas 
and Tabitha (Stone) Merriam. As the original ancestors of the Merriams and 
the Stones, came to this country between 1630 and 1640, it is probable that this 
venerable relic was a portion of the furniture brought by the first emigrant in 
one of those families. 



102 

Scriptures by Eev. Brown Emerson, of Westminster ; and Prayer 
by Rev. Marcus Ames, of Chelsea, Mass., who formerly officiated 
in Westminstei". 

The following original Hymn, composed by Miss Lucy B. 
Whitney, of Westminster, was then sung. 

All hail the day we celebrate ! 

Let all the people throng, 
And every voice with one accord, 

Pour forth a o;rateful song. 

And while in the loud swelling strain. 

Are joining old and young, 
Let every note our lips shall breathe, 

To thee, God, be sung. 

Here are the people thy right hand 

Hath scattered o'er our hills ; ^ 

Pour out, Lord, on all our hearts, 'j 

The grace thy love instills. i 

So shall the gala-day we spend, " 

Find favor in thy sight. 
And crown a century's hoary head — 

A coronet of light. 

We trace, to-day, the hundred years 

Our native town hath seen ; 
A hundred times thy power, God, 

Hath robed her hills in green. 

And all the blessings that have dropped 

Upon her sons like dew. 
Have shown, through all the circling years. 

Thy boundless love anew. 

And now unto our native soil 

Her scattered sons repair ; 
Make all their hearts, Lord of hosts, 

J^ree as her mountain air. 

For a hundred years thy mighty arm 

Hath made our town increase ; 
Upon the century yet to come. 

Send forth, Lord, thy peace. 



103 

After these preliminary exercises, which were inaudible to 
nineteen-twentieths of the Assembly, in consequence of the violence 
of the Avind, Hon, Charles Hudson, of Lexington, was introduced 
as the Orator of the Day. Mr. Hudson attempted to deliver his 
Address, under circumstances peculiarly adverse. The rude blasts 
of old Boreas, whistling through the pendent branches of the aged 
elms over his head, rendered it impossible for any man to be heard 
by any considerable number of the people present. A contest with 
such a rival proving unavailing, a compromise was finally effected, 
by an adjournment to the Orthodox Church. The house was 
immediately filled to overflowing, and only a small portion of the 
people could gain admission. The Universalists' Church, on the 
opposite side of the Street, was immediately thrown open ; and 
the Address of Mr. Hudson was resumed in the former, while the 
Poem of Mr. Haywood was commenced in the latter. But even 
then, a considerable portion of the people could not be accommo- 
dated with seats, or even get within the sound of the speakers' 
voices. 

The time which had been consumed in marching to and from the 
Hill to the churches, left in fact but little time for speaking ; so 
that only a small portion of what had been prepai'ed, could be 
delivered. Kather than be late at the table, the exercises at the 
church were cut short, and the following Original Hymn, by 
Hon. George Lunt, of Boston, was sung : 

Let grateful songs ascend on high, 

For now the day of days has come, 
When swelling heart and moistened eye 

Bid every wanderer welcome home. 

Each field and hill and grassy slope 

Recalls — what buried joys and tears ! 
While Memory crowns, in hand with Hope, 

This harvest of a hundred years. 

These are the paths our Fathers trod. 
Our Sons the faithful thought shall keep, 

And bless, like us, the sacred sod. 

Where fathers and where mothers sleep. 

Thus on this spot till ages end. 

While souls their pious thoughts renew, 

The past shall with the present blend. 
To make the future bright and true. 



104 

After the Benediction was pronounced, the procession was re- 
formed and moved to the Common, where a Dinner had been 
provided by Captain Charles Fletcher, of Leominster, Ample 
justice having been done to this repast, by some twelve hundred 
persons, the President of the Day, Mr. Benjamin Wyman, rose and 
made the following Address : 

Ladies and Gentlemen : — 

I am called, this day, to preside and take the responsibilities of 
this position, by the Committee of Arrangements. I do not con- 
ceive that the honor was conferred upon me for any tact or abiHty 
which I possess above my associates ; but, for the single reason, 
that I am one of the few who were born in this town, and have 
always resided here, and have been an eye-witness of the events 
which have transpired for the last half century. 

In behalf of the Committee of Arrangements, I welcome you, 
one and all, to the pleasures and festivities of this day. Particu- 
larly do I welcome those whose foitunes are cast elsewhere, who 
have returned to visit the place of their birth and the scenes of 
their childhood. I welcome you to our somewhat wild and 
romantic scenery, which may have, in some degree, given cast to 
your characters ; to our fresh and bracing atmosphere, which could 
hardly fail to impart strength and vigor to your frames. I welcome 
you to the scene of your fathers' toils — to the place where parental 
fondness reared you, and where many a prayer has been offered 
for your prosperity and happiness. 

I also welcome those of our friends, who are here to-day as 
invited guests ; and though we have nothing peculiarly atti'active 
or striking in our history, to engage your attention, and gain your 
admiration, we trust that we can point you to a stern and pious 
ancestry, who contributed their full share to build up the institu- 
tions, whose blessings are shared by the present generation. 

In October, 1759, Westminster was incorporated into a District, 
that the people might better regulate their municipal affairs. She 
was then a constituent part of Massachusetts Colony, subject to the 
government of Great Britain. In less than twenty years, our Inde- 
pendence was declared, which eventually separated the Colony 
from the mother country. This is history. 

The first settlers in this town were of the old English Puritan 
stock, bred to the rights of private judgment, and, inheriting the 



105 

great principles of English liberty and independence, were ready 
at all times to assert their rights, and maintain them too, whoever 
might be the aggressor. Being an intelligent and religious people, 
they were ever ready to perform their part in laying broad and 
deep the foundations of a free Commonwealth. Their love of 
liberty, and their readiness to peril all in its defence, grew out of 
their devotion to their God, and a firm trust in his providence. 
Believing in the " higher law," and the ability of the divine Law- 
giver to do his will among the nations of the earth, they performed 
what, after full and deliberate reflection, thev conceived to be their 
duty, and left the result with him. Nor did they labor and suffer 
for themselves alone. Their love of liberty included the welfare 
of those who came after them. Tiie sacrifices they made in our 
Revolution, were for the two-fold object of securing the blessings 
of liberty to themselves, and leaving the rich inheritance to their 
posterity. Such was the character, and such the motives of our 
Fathers ; and we are here to-day to hallow their memories, and 
venerate their names. The fathers and mothers of the Revolution 
are gone from us ; but their deeds and their characters " still live." 
And we can best express our gratitude by trusting in Him on whom 
they relied, by emulating their deeds, and handing down their 
names to succeeding generations. 

^^•'hat thoughts and recollections crowd upon us to-day ! The 
past has gone, and the present will be history a hundred years 
hence. The place we shall occupy in its pages, depends upon 
ourselves. I well remember, in my boyhood, of listening to a 
citizen of this town, while he related an experience of his youth. 
He said, " at the breaking out of the Revolution, a messenger 
arrived in town before noon, on the 19th of April, to notify the 
people that the British troops were on their way to Concord. 
Runners were sent in every direction, to rally the citizens. My 
father and I were at work in the field, when the news reached us. 
We went to the house and took our dinner ; he gave directions to 
my mother, and immediately started off with others for Concord." 
AVhat was true of this man, was true of more than forty other 
citizens of Westminster, on that eventful day. Well may we 
exclaim. Patriotic and nohh ancestors ! We will strive to emulate 
your virtues. 

Citizens of Gardner, who are here to celebrate this day with us, 
we bid you, welcome. Some of your territory was included in 
11 



106 

ours at the time of our incorporation. You have gone out from 
us ; you have outgrown us ; but we envy not your prosperity. 
You are bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh, and when one 
member rejoices, all shall rejoice with it. Go on and prosper, and 
our benediction shall attend you. 

We have many, we rejoice to know, with us to-day, M'ho will 
speak to us on this joyous occasion. 

Mr. Wyman closed by announcing Messrs. Frederick Allen 
and Daniel C. Miles, as Toast-masters ; and said that he trusted 
responses would be made by gentlemen, as they were called upon. 

The gale which had been so annoying during the morning, con- 
tinued with unabated violence through the whole afternoon, render- 
ing the speech of the President, and the responses to the senti- 
ments, inaudible, except to the few who were near the speakers. 
This fact will account for the meager report of the speeches. 

The following regular sentiments were announced by the Toast- 
masters : 

1. The Day we celebrate. 

This sentiment was responded to, by Rev. S. S. Smith, of War- 
ren, Mass., formerly a settled clergyman in Westminster. He 
said : " I know not why I should be called upon thus early, to 
open the intellectual treat on this occasion. For I find myself 
somewhat in the situation of a verdant young lad who, during my 
ministry in this place, attended yonder Academy. One evening, on 
going to the door to answer the bell, I found myself confronted by 
a brother Jonathan, who said, ' Mr. Smith, I attend the Academy, 
and the Preceptor says I must write a composition ; and I called 
to see if you would not assist me.' 'I cannot write a composition 
for you,' was my reply. ' I did not expect that you would write 
it for me,' said he, ' but I kinder wanted you should give me some 
words, and I will kinder put them together, and so make some 
idees if I can.' I told him if that Avas all he wanted, I could help 
him ; I could give him a dictionary, which was full of words. 

" My situation is not exactly like his. I have generally words 
enough ; but I shall find it ' kinder ' hard to put them together, so 
as to make ideas. But I suppose I must say something, to open 
this entertainment. I rejoice in this day. I rejoice that I am per- 



lOT 

mltted to see so many familiar uiid pleasant faces before me, all 
apparently rejoicing in this occasion. I think this day will do us 
all good ; as it will join our souls together, and induce us to do 
more for the benefit of the community. There is not a man or 
woman here to-day, but that will go home with a fuller appreciation 
of the blessings we enjoy. All will be Aviscr and better for being 
here. Though I am not a native of the place, I feel connected 
with you by the ties of an intercourse extended through the 
several years of my residence in your midst. I have many attach- 
ments to the good old town, and rejoice that I am neither forgotten 
nor repudiated by you." He closed his remarks with expressing 
his good wishes for the peace, prosperity, and future enjoyment of 
the people of the place. 

2. The Town of Westminster — as it was one hundred 
years ago, and as it /lOW is. 

As a response to this sentiment, the following letter from the 
honorable and venerable Abijah Bigelow, of Worcester, was read : 

Worcester, Sept. 27, 1859. 
William S. Bradbury, Esq. : 

Dear Sir, — I received your polite invitation, in behalf of the 
Committee for the Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of 
the Incorporation of the Town of Westminster, of which I am 
a native, being born there on the fifth of December, 1775. It 
would give me great pleasure, and much satisfaction, to be present 
on so interesting an occasion, were I able ; but my age and infirm- 
ities will prevent my attendance. You ask me to give my recol- 
lections of its early history. Great changes have taken place since 
I was a boy. My father lived about a mile westerly of the Meet- 
ing-house Hill, where Rev. Asaph Rice resided. There was then 
no other road from Westminster to Gardner, but that which went 
by my father's house, Avhich was situated Avhere my kinsman, 
Benson Bigelow, now resides. He then kept a public house, for 
the accommodation of travelers who passed on the road, but not 
as a resort for towns-people to drink and carouse. From the time 
I was seven to ten years old, I shall never, while my recollections 
last, forget those Avinters. It was at a time Avhen the principal 
citizens of the towns lying beyond Greenfield, went in sleighs to 
cany their produce to Boston ; and frequently we had, at night, to 



108 

put up from twenty to thirty horses, which was cold Nvork, as I 
know by experience, for I had to assist. Since then, you have 
made a Turnpike, which goes back of my father's house. Then the 
Raih-oad to Vermont was made, which, although running through 
Westminster, is yet two or three miles from the centie of the town. 
The changes in respect to schools have been highly honorable to 
you as a town. You have an Academy on " ]Meeting-house Hill," 
so called, which has been well sustained, and is in a flourishing 
condition. 

I have much to make me respect and love the town of West- 
minster ; and I sincerely hope that by industry, frugality, and 
temperance, it may always continue one of the most respectable 
towns in the county. 

Once more, regretting my inability to be with you on the 6th of 
October, and praying for God's blessing on my native town, I 
remain, 

YxDurs truly, 

Abijah Bigelow. 

3. The Sons of Westminster^ native and adopted. — 
"While our forests have disappeared under the hand of 
cultivation, it has not reduced the value of our Wood. 

It was expected that Hon. Nathaniel Wood, of Fitchburg, a 
former resident in the town, would have been present to respond 
to this sentiment ; but being absent, the President said he was 
happy to say, that Rev. Dr. Allen, formerly a Missionary to Bom- 
bay, who was for a short time a resident in this place, and who 
had partaken largely of its blessings, was present with us on this 
occasion ; and as his better-half was a Wood, of Westminster 
growth, he should call upon him.* 

Dr. Allen said, he came to this town about forty years ago, as a 
school-teacher. " I am happy now to recognize many of my former 
pupils, as the leading and distinguished citizens of the town. 
While teaching in Westminster, I made many valuable acquaint- 
ances and friends, and the recollections of those days are revived 
on this occasion. I was ordained as a Foreign Missionary in this 

* Dr. Allen married, 1827, Miss !Myra "Wood, daughter of Abel Wood, Esq. 
She accompanied him to Bombay, where she died, February 5, 1831. 



lOJ) 

town, and but a few rods from this place, in May, 1827, thirty-two 
years ago. I left the country soon after, and was absent twenty- 
six years. In leaving this country, I was conscious that I was 
attended by the prayers and benedictions of many of the good 
people of Westminster. It was from this town that I took witli 
me what I valued above all earthly blessings ; and I am happy to 
know that the Wood, of this kind, has not deteriorated." 

He then related some family reminiscences, and closed with some 
brief and touching allusions to the companion of his choice, who 
was willing to give up all for Christ, and who cheerfully left 
friends and kindred dear, to accompany him on his mission to the 
heathen, in the hope that she might be instrumental in spreading 
the glorious Gospel among the benighted children of Asia ; who 
cooperated with him in his labors in the Bombay Mission, and who 
found her last resting-place in that distant country, far from her 
native land. 

Mr. Goodwin Wood, of Fitchburg, also responded to this senti- 
ment. He related some incidents that occurred in his boyhood, 
and humorously gave an anecdote bearing upon the ludicrous, of a 
conversation which, to his boyish imagination, had all the vividness 
of truth, but which, to his riper years, hardly rose to the dignity of 
fiction. He concluded by giving as a sentiment : 

Westminster — which has ever taken a high stand in 
the cause of temperance, virtue and moraUty — may she 
pursue the same course, " only more so," for the com- 
ing hundred years. 

4. Our Lands — Although productive of many of the 
good thinfjs of life, yet not sufficiently so to save us, at 
this time, from dependence upon the Western Miller. 

Levi i\Iiller, Esq., of Antwerp, N. Y., a native of Westminster, 
responded to the call thus made upon him. " We are assembled," 
said he, "for no common purpose, and on no common occasion. 
We are here to take a view of the past, and should time permit, 
to take a glance at the future. We are here, not to engage in the 
business of President-making, or Governor-making — not to discuss 
political questions — whether Congress has a right to make a certain 
law, or not ; but we come to shake each other cordially by the 



no 

hand, and to unite our hearts in affectionate remembrance, and our 
voices in praise of whatever is wise and great. We have come 
from the shores of the sea, from the rivers of the West, from the 
sunny climes of the South, and from the granite hills of the North, 
to unite our voices with yours, in celebrating the One Hundredth 
Anniversary of your Birth-day." 

The speaker then compared Westminster of 1759, with West- 
minster of 1859, and said, that then the wandering Indian traversed 
this county, spreading terror and devastation, but now the steam- 
engine goes snorting his way through valleys and hills, and he was 
happy to learn that he was about to put his nose through the 
Hoosac. After running this parallel between the past and the 
present, and giving several instances of the great changes which a 
century had wrought, he continued by saying : " With this day 
we renew our affection for this town. We should bow before our 
Heavenly Father, and thank him that he has vouchsafed to us this 
opportunity ; that he has blessed both you and us, and inspired 
our hearts with filial and fraternal feeling. I would say with the 
Royal Psalmist : ' Our heads are anointed with oil, and our cup 
runneth over.' In yonder cemetery rest the bones of my ancestors, 
who took part in the early settlement of this town ; among whom 
is an honored mother, who taught me to love God, and to pray to 
him, and to keep the Sabbath-day holy. These lessons from her 
pious lips, seem to rise up fresh before me on this occasion, and 
admonish me not to disregard the instruction of her who, though 
dead, yet speaketh." 

After relating some personal incidents, he closed by suggesting 
that if the increase of population, and the march of improvement, 
for the next century, should continue in equal ratio with the past, 
the people may be able to come from all parts of the country to 
attend our next Centennial, and return to their home the same 
eveninsf. 



5. Our Fathers ivere a provident people — but though 
they estimated their money by Pennies, their lands were 
computed by Miles. 

It was expected that Rev. Dr. Henry A. Miles, of Boston, whose 
grandfather resided in Westminster, and was their principal land 
surveyor, would respond to this sentiment ', but not being present. 



Ill 

the President said he should do the best he could to procure a sub- 
stitute, and therefore shoukl call upon Clough R. Miles, Esq., of 
Millbury, who, though of another llunily, had the advantage of 
being a native of Westminster. 

Mr. Miles, in answer to the call, gave an account of his lineage, 
and, recurring to the scenes of his boyhood, said he could almost 
hear the tread of his feet, as he came to the old school-house on the 
Meeting-house Hill, fifty years ago, where every rock and spear of 
grass seemed familiar to him. He could see the old Meeting- 
house with its elevated pulpit, and its high square pews, and the 
stone horse-block near the east door, where our fathers and mothers 
mounted their horses, the one upon the saddle, and the other upon 
the pillion ; the venerable Tything-men, who acted as police 
officers, and the dreaded old Stocks, to be put in requisition in 
cases of necessity. All this, and more, was perfectly famihar to his 
recollection. He then asked the older portion of the assembly, 
who were inhabitants of the place, to take a ramble with him about 
the town ; he described the location of many of the old inhab- 
itants, facetiously pictured their dwellings, the well-sweep, and 
the old oaken bucket, and gave many amusing incidents, show- 
ing the spirit of the times, and the respective peculiarities of some 
of the families — carrying the scene back to days within the recol- 
lection of the older inhabitants only. Fearing that his ramble 
would occupy too much time, he would close ; and if he had tres- 
passed too long upon their patience, his apology was, that the 
township was large, and the picture was so vivid to his mind, that 
it seemed to be living his life over again, and he did not wish to 
shorten his existence. 

6. The Schools of Westminster, both pnhlic and private 
— not behind the rest in the State, as the men and women 
they have sent out can practically testify. 

llev. Charles Kendall, of Petersham, was then introduced. He 
said that being a native of the town, and receiving the first rudi- 
ments of his education in the district school, and his early classical 
education in the Academy near by, he could testify to their char- 
acter, and to the blessings they had conferred upon those who had 
enjoyed their privileges ; and in common with others, his thoughts 
often recurred to the old school-house, where a thousand pleasing 



112 

recollections rushed lapon his mind. His old playmates, their sly 
tricks, their hearty play, their hard, pleasing, and sometimes per- 
.plexing studies, the labors of the teacher, the true friendships 
which were there contracted, the books which they studied, and 
even the benches on which they sat, rose up before him, and he 
seemed to be in the very midst of those pleasant scenes. 

He knew that these little seminaries had been a blessing to the 
place, and he fondly hoped that the pupils from these schools 
who had gone abroad, had brought no dishonor upon the town, or 
its institutions. He could bear testimony that they had been 
cordially received abroad ; and in most cases, he believed, the 
Westminster schools, and their graduates, had mutually reflected 
honor upon each other. 



7. The Learned Professions — Although the number 
of our Sons who have entered them is not great, yet 
there is no occasion to be ashamed of them, as they are 
not ashamed of their native town. 

The following letter from Dr. Joel W. Wyman, a native of 
Westminster, and now a citizen of South Carolina, was read : 

South Carolina, Beaufort Dist., Sept. 26, 1859. 
Mr. Merkiam : 

Dear Sir, — Present my sincere acknowledgments to the Com- 
mittee of Arrangements for their polite and "cordial invitation" 
to be present at the Centennial Celebration of Old Westminster. 
Other engagements, and distance so remote, preclude the possibility 
of my mingling in person, though the spirit will be there, to enjoy 
the festivities of that great occasion, crowded with historic recol- 
lections. The origin and settlement of my native town, the hopes, 
joys, sorrows, successes and reverses of human beings, moving and 
acting, for a hundred years, make up a thrilling historic panorama ; 
and nothing could afford me greater pleasure than to join with 
kindred and old friends in a social " cup of tea," (preserved from 
the Boston harbor tea party,) on the 6th of October, 1859. The 
old Red School-house in the woods, fifty years ago ; the physical and 
mental struggles of youth for pre-eminence; the Old Church on 
the Hill, wheie the music of the March winds vied with the Church 



11:] 

choir in loudest strains of melody, spring involuntarily upon my 
mental vision, as I read your kind letter of invitation. 

Permit me to repeat my thanks to the (Jommittee of Arrange- 
ments, my cordial good wishes to the old survivors of AVest- 
minster, my old associates, and their successors, while a trihute of 
respectful memory hovers over the grave of the departed, once 
known and loved. 

Yours very respectfully, 

J. W. Wyman. 



Watertown, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1859. 
J. Merriam, Jr., Esq. : 

Dear Sir, — I thank the Committee, on whose behalf your letter 
of the 8th inst. invites me to " be present, and participate in, and 
partake of, the festivities of the Centennial Celebration of ' Old 
Westminster,' on the 6th of October next." Although it is not 
my birth-place, my fiither and mother, my brothers and my sister, 
were born there, and I spent several of the early years of my life 
there, commencing at the date of my earliest recollection ; and as 
first impressions are most indelible, so upon the tablet of my mem- 
ory, underlaying all subsequent impressions, and freshening as 
life's journey advances, I remember " Old Westminster," as she 
was fifty years ago — her enchanting landscape at sun-rise, and the 
plaintive song of the whippowil, at evening twilight — her stern 
Wachusett, king of all the hills — her smiling hill-sides and serene 
valleys — her placid meeting-house pond — her gurgling, chattering 
brooks — her corn-fields and grain-fields — her orchards and mead- 
ows — her rocks and chestnut woodlands — her capital thunder in 
summer and her wild snow-storms and huge snow-drifts in winter 
— her Old Meeting-house on the Hill, with its glass-covered box 
by the door-side, in which the curious public had notice of intended 
marriages — the cheerful noon-call of the old " meeting-house bell," 
and its solemn, measured death-tones, when the " grim messenger " 
had invaded the town — her quiet " burying-ground " — her solemn 
Sabbaths — her Thanksgiving and Election days, when the children 
had pumpkin pics and plum cakes — the trainings on the Common, 
when gingerbread and new cider were sometimes plenty and cheap 
— and last, the Old School-house on the Hill, where Perry's Spell- 
ing Book, Scott's Lessons, and Alexander's Grammar, were oft 

15 



lU 

sensibly impressed upon young minds, through the palm, by the 
aid of the ferule. 

Such were the surroundings and influences that moulded the 
character of Westminster boys fifty years ago. What changes for 
the better, time may have wrought, I know not ; but of the few 
Westminster men with whom I am acquainted, whose character was 
cast in the mould of the times fifty years ago, all have remembered 
with pleasure and gratitude the home of their childhood, and none 
has brought a blush upon the brow, or a stain upon the history, of 
his native town. 

Regretting that I am not able to be present, and wishing you a 
right happy time, I offer through you the following sentiment : 

Old Westminster — May her Prosperity be as firm as her hills, and as 
lasting as her rocks — her Morality as ripe as her years, and as pure as 
her air — her Charity as broad as her landscape, and as unpretending as 
her streamlets — and her Peace as serene as her summer sky, and as calm 
as her deepest glen. 

With mingled sentiments of pleasure and sadness, 
I remain, respectfully yours, 

C. B. Hoard. 

Meriden, Sept. 19, 1859. 
W. S. Bradbury, Esq. : 

My Dear Sir, — Your letter of invitation was duly received. 
Please express my thanks for it to the Committee of Arrangements 
for the Centennial Celebration of your town. It would give me 
great pleasure to be present, but it occurs just at the time of the 
meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
Missions, at Philadelphia, which meeting I have engaged to attend ; 
and others would be disappointed by a change of the plan. 

I trust you will have a pleasant and profitable day. I shall ever 
remain interested in the work and welfare of the citizens of West- 
minster. And I shall ever rejoice in their success. It is a goodly 
town, and many good, and some able men and women have been 
raised there, to do service for the cause of truth and humanity. 
May she send out many more such, to stand in the places of those 
that have been, and must soon be, gathered unto their fathers. 
And may this, and other lands, be made to rejoice, as aforetime, in 
the reception of her Sons to the various departments of professional 



115 

and business life. And so may the gratitude of the nations, and 
the benediction of the divine Father, come unto, and rest upon her 
and her Sons forever. 

Yours ever, in the bonds of friendship and faith, 

O. H. WHITti, 

Ex-Pastor of the \st Cong. Ch. in Westminster, Ms. 

Rev. Frankhn Merriam, of New Boston, N. H., responded to 
the sentiment. He said that the toast was highly flattering to 
those who had gone out from the place, and entered into the 
professions ; and though he had not the vanity to take any consid- 
erable portion of it to himself, he believed he could say that none 
of them had brought dishonor upon their calling, or the place of 
their nativity. But aside from the learned professions, however 
various their callings might be, or diversified the fields of their 
labor, Westminster had many noble men who had labored in other 
fields of usefulness, and well sustained the credit of the town. 

Rev. Joseph Peckham, of Kingston, Ms., was then called upon. 
He acknowledged the compliment of the sentiment, and made 
a short and pleasing address, in which he recalled many of the 
scenes of his early life. He interspersed his speech with several 
appropriate anecdotes, and passed a facetious eulogium upon the 
Old Meeting-house Hill, and its inhabitants for a half century or 
more, — making it the most sacred, the most pleasing, the most 
honorable, the most varying, the most ludicrous spot in the town- 
ship. He closed by giving as a sentiment : 

May the People of Westminster ever retain in their 
memory the Old Meetiufj-house Hill., and keep it green 
in their affections. 

8. The Orator of the Day — Altliongh not a native, yet 
an adopted citi::en. 

Mr. Hudson responded as follows : " After the vain attempt to 
speak from yonder platform, this morning, where I was rebuked 
and fairly silenced by the whistling of the wind, and the murmuring 
of the pendent branches of the stately elms, I shall not attempt to 
make a speech at this time. I will say, however, that I cherish 
with pride and aflfection my associations with the town of ^\'^est- 



116 

minster. True it is not the place of my birth ; but a residence 
of a quarter of a century has in a great degree alhed me to this 
town. There are many considerations which render this place near 
and dear to me. 

" I- have also received many tokens of respect and confidence 
from the people of this town, which I cherish in fond remembrance. 
And though for ten years past I have been absent from you, I 
rejoice that I dwell among your kindred ; for the town of Lex- 
ington sent out many emigrants to this place. The Whitneys, the 
Merriams, the Fessendens, the Estabrooks, the E^aymonds, the 
Edgells, the Pierces, the Cutlers, and some others, either on the 
male or female side, came from my adopted town. So that though 
separated from you, I am in the midst of your relatives and friends. 
I will conclude by giving you a sentiment." 

The Town of Westminster — Elevated above her neigh- 
bors, her air is peculiarly invigorating ; but when con- 
verted into a gale^ a little annoying to speakers and 
hearers. 

9. The Toivn of Gardner — A fair and lovely daughter 
of a fond mother. 

Edwin Glazier, Esq., of Gardner, was called upon to respond to 
this sentiment, who spoke as follows : "I w^ill simply say that 
seventy-four years ago last May, Gardner vras incorporated ; the 
mother, therefore, is twenty-six years older than the daughter. 
AVhatever the mother has been, or may be hereafter, I assure you 
that the daughter is a buxom lass ! " 

10. llie Escort — Although not military, yet organized 
for the purpose oi fghtlng an enemy as destructive of 
property as armed men. May they be as successful in 
their strife with their natural foe, as they have been, 
this day, in their new capacity. 

11. The Bands — Though they speak with brazen 
tongues, their notes, at their bidding, will enkindle the 
fire of patriotism, or the glow of friendship ; will melt 
the heart into tender pity, or warm it into fervent devo- 
tion. 



117 

12. The Fircmoi of (Gardner — ^lay they always have 
" Torrents " of water for their enemies^ and " Cataracts " 
of favors for their friends. 

Mr. Allen Folger, of Gardner, made the followini;; response : 
" After enjoying what we have this day, and receiving horn you 
the cordial welcome you have given us, it would be doing both 
you and ourselves injustice, to let this opportunity pass in 
silence by the Gtuxlner Firemen. As we have listened with 
interest to the speeches that have been made, we have felt 
the truth of the remark, ' that if Westminster could boast of 
nothing else, she could boast that she had produced men.' MVe 
have seen it manifested in the efforts that have been made to min- 
ister to our enjoyment to-day ; and we will return our heartfelt 
thanks, and assure you that we shall not soon forget this occasion. 
Your Poet has told us that ' principles were not men,' No, they 
are as old as the everlasting hills ; and the principles that were 
instilled by the fathers into their children, years ago, have been 
developing, and we see the result in the men and women that 
Westminster boasts to-day. 

" But to return to the sentiment. The Firemen of Gardner in- 
tend fully to carry it out ; but sometimes their enemies are too mighty 
for them, and they have to withhold their Torrents of water. If 
the enemy be only fire, they expect to conquer ; but if it be ivind, 
they have to beat a retreat, as they have done to-day. ' We war 
not with the Highest.' They have heretofore endeavored to have 
Cataracts of fivors for their friends, but they have been obliged to 
confess, as they came around these tables, that their friends knew 
how to bestow favors, as well as to receive them." 

The sentiments and responses at the table, Avere interspersed 
with music from the Bands ; but the same cause which interrupted 
the speaking, destroyed, in a great degree, the effect of the music ; 
and as it seemed unkind to call upon the bands to play second fiddle 
to the elements, their labors Avere, for the most part, dispensed 
with, to the regret of the assembly. 

Several other sentiments were handed in, and several volunteers 
were proposed, and would have been offered, had the weather been 
propitious. Wc will notice a i^ew of them. One was omitted, 
which can only be partially atoned for by inserting it here. 



118 

The Ladies of Westminster — Ever first and foremost 
in every good word and work. 

Kiiuj Philip and his confederate Chiefs — Shrewd, 
bold and daring, in defence of their rights ; may their 
names be venerated for their jja/no^z5m, and not for 
their love of war. 

Massachusetts, the Home of the Puritan Fathers — The 
model State of the Union, and the glory of the nation. 

The Generation that may celebrate our next Centennial 
— May they be freed from the contaminating influence 
of Alcohol, and be wiser, holier and happier than the 
present generation. 

Our Anniversary — A day in our history fraught with 
grateful recollections of the Past, and hopeful anticipa- 
tions of the Future — may our most ardent wishes be 
realized, and our fair fame ever remain bright and un- 
sullied. 

The Union — Saved not hy puhlic meetings and patriotic 
resolutions, but by the dissemination of the great prin- 
ciples of equity and justice. 

The Toils and Sacrifices of the Founders of the Town — 

The Fathers — men of noble hearts ; 

How little do we know, 
How many hardships they endured 

One Hundred years ago. 

Then let their names be ne'er forgot, 

Who toiled 'mid heat and snow, 
To plant their homes among these hills 

One Hundred years ago. 

The Wachusett and the Monadnock — They stand as 
watch-towers, on the South and the North. May our 
safety, peace, and prosperity, be as enduring as the 
everlasting hills. 



119 



AN ODE, 

COMPOSED FOR TIIK OCCASION. 

Tune — The Star-sjyungled Banner. 

On the Hill where our fathers with arms in tlieir hands, 

Oft knelt in devotion, in fear and in trembling, 
With exultant thanksgiving, in jubilant bands, 

Their friends and descendants, tliis day, are assembling. 
With a zeal that ne'er tires, our patriot sires 
Have extinguished the blaze of the wild savage fires ; 
The might of Jehovah which reigned in their breast, 
Sustained them in peril, redeemed when oppressed. 

And the howl of the wolf and the fierce savage yell, 
Which pervaded the forest and echoed in wild-wood. 

Have at length given place to the chime of the bell, 
To the quiet of age, and the safety of childhood. 

Like the pilgrims of yore, their perils they bore, 

Till war and oppression afilicted no more. 

The faith of assurance which glowed in their breast, 

Sustained them in peril, in peace gave them rest. 

And we their descendants, who've entered the rest 
Of this blissful Canaan, by Providence given — 

Shall we prove ungrateful for blessings possessed. 
And make no return for the bounties of Heaven ? 

No ; in transports of praise, our voices we'll raise, 

Till spirits made perfect shall join in our lays ; 

For God is our refuge, his truth will endure. 

His grace is eternal, his mercies are sure. 

In the evening, a portion of the citizens met at the Congrega- 
tional Church, where Mr. Haywood repeated his Poem, and several 
speeches were made by citizens and others, which gave additional 
interest to the occasion. The Firemen also gave a Ball in honor 
of the day. 

The day passed without accident, or any thing save the high 
wind, to mar the pleasures of the occasion. And even the dis- 
appointment, arising from the cause spoken of, seemed only to 
produce a mutual sympathy, which bound heart to heart, and 
almost involuntarily induced every son and daughter of Westmin- 



120 

ster to fall back, and seek contentment and pleasure on the bosom 
of their native land : 

' And as the child when scaring sounds molest, 
Clings close and closer to the mother's breast ; 
So the loud torrent and the whirlwind's roar 
But bound them to their native mountains more.' 

Much praise is due to the Firemen, whose sport was entirely- 
destroyed, but who, nevertheless, performed the escort duties with 
cheerfulness ; and whose appearance and orderly behavior con- 
tributed greatly to the show and pleasure of the day. One incident, 
which reflects honor upon the Westminster Fire Company, deserves 
mention. When the people were about to repair to the table, it 
was ascertained that those who wished to partake of the repast, ex- 
ceeded the number of plates. This fact coming to the knowledge 
of the Company, who were already provided with tickets, they 
cheerfully gave them up, that the ladies, the older citizens, and 
strangers in the town, might enjoy the pleasures of the table. 

Thus passed a day long to be remembered in the history of 
Westminster ; a day which, while it recounted deeds of valor in 
the past, privations not unmingled in the cup of bliss, and toils 
made cheerful by the sunlight of hope, on the part of those who 
transmitted to us the privileges we enjoy, was eminently calculated 
to unite heart to heart, and to cement in still stronger union the 
kindred tie of brotherhood ; a day in which the lights and shadows 
of the past, mingling with the bright joys of the present, spread a 
lustre over the century of the Town's history, and inspired the 
fondest hopes, that the pages of her future history may never be 
shaded by misfortune, or darkened by crime ; but be enlivened by 
progress, brightened by prosperity, and rendered more resplendent 
by intelligence and virtue. 



APPENDIX 



Every student in History has reason to regret the meagre character of 
the records of the past ; and seeing the importance of full and perfect 
records, will feel inclined to chronicle the events of his times, so as to 
relieve those that come after him from the difficulties and embarrassments 
under which he labors, in presenting a true picture of the ages that pre- 
ceded him. We have felt this difhculty in our attempt to bring the 
manners and customs of past generations before the people in our late 
Celebration, and to show to those now upon the stage to whom we are 
indebted for the great blessings we enjoy. We have sought in vain for a 
full list of those who resided in this Township when the place was incor- 
porated ; and to relieve those who may dwell here one hundred years hence 
from a like disapjiointment, we will insert a list of our Town Officers for 
the year 1859, and the Tax Bill for the same year. And though some at 
this day may deem the information unimportant, we know that its value 
will increase from year to year; and before half a century has rolled round, 
this list will be looked upon with interest, and our children's children will 
thank us for the information we have transmitted to them. 

And, in order to show those who come after us, the desire of the 
present generation to perpetuate the memory of our Fathers, and to con- 
vince coming generations that we do not live for ourselves alone, we will 
give a copy of the generous vote of the Town in relation to this subject 
matter : 

At a legal meeting held August 27, 1859, after voting to celebrate the 
Anniversary, and appointing a large Committee for the purpose of carry- 
ing the same into effect, it was " Voted, That the Selectmen audit the 
accounts of the Committee, and draw orders on the Town Treasurer for 
the same, not exceeding jifteen hundred dollars.'" 

It was then moved, that the Committee cause to be printed a sufficient 

number of copies of the Address to supply each voter with a copy — 

whereupon the whole subject was referred to the Committee. 
16 



TOWN OPFICERS OP WESTMINSTER, 

FOR THE YEAR 1859. 



TOWN CLERK. 

WILLIAM S. BRADBURY. 

SELECTMEN AND OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. 

WILLIAM MAYO, CHARLES UPTON, 

FRANKLIN WYMAN. 

ASSESSORS. 

THEODORE WHITNEY, DANIEL C. MILES, 

ARETAS RAYMOND. 

TREASURER. 

DAVID W. HILL. 

CONSTABLES. 

WILLIAM EDGELL, ALONZO A. PRATT, 

PHILANDER C. BROWN. 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE. 

ANSON SPAULDING. CLINTON WARNER. 

DANIEL C. MILES. 



Valuation of and Tax upon the Property of the Town of Westminster, 
as taken on the \st of May, 1859. 

Valuation of Real Estate, $ 555,054 00 

« Personal Estate, 179,822 00 

Total, .... $ 734,876 00 

Amount of money raised to defray town charges, . . . $ 2,500 00 

For the support of schools, 1,600 00 

County tax, 1,211 78 

State tax, 399 00 

Overlay ings, 249 01 

Total, $ 5,959 79 

Amount raised to repair the highways, to be laid out in labor 

among the twenty-six highway districts, .... $ 2,000 00 



TAX-PAYERS IN WESTxMINSTEK. 



KATE OF TAXATION — 72 CENTS ON 100 DOLLAKS. 



NAMES. 


TAX. 


NAMES. 


TAX. 


George Adams, 


$14 


01 


Jonathan Boynton, 


$3 52 


Alden F. Adams, 


6 


36 


Asa B. Bates, 


5 S3 


Levi Allen, 


21 


85 


Alonzo F. Brown, 


2 58 


Frederick Allen, 


25 


11 


Samuel N. Barnes, 


3 59 


Jacob Ames, 


16 


62 


Nathan Baker, 


1 50 


Francis Alzingre, 


5 


40 


Thomas K. Bathrick, 
Aaron S. Bolton, 


8 51 
4 38 


AVidow Maria Baker, and ) 
Adin F. Baker, 5 


14 


78 


Franklin E. Bolton, 


1 50 


John ;M. Baldwin, 


1 50 


Samuel Brooks, 


1 


50 


Michael Brashnain, 


1 50 


Sewall Barnes, 


14 


33 


Alfred L. Brooks, 


1 50 


Edward Bacon, Jr. 


29 


06 


Albert E. Brooks, 


4 02 


Edward Bacon, 


4 


74 


Paul D. Black, 


1 50 


Philander C. Brown, 


5 


22 


Levi Baker, 


1 50 


Asa Brooks, 


1 


61 


Xahum Barrell, 


33 99 


Widow Sally Brooks, 


27 


58 


George R. Battin, 


1 50 


James R. Bruce, 


13 


52 


William M. Baker, 


1 50 


Benson Bigelow, 


25 


53 


Joseph Battin, 


6 04 


Widow L. and } 


30 


55 


jNIerrick Barnes, 


1 50 


Charles W. Barrell, 5 


James Brown, 


6 55 


Luke Bigelow, 


23 


74 


Thomas H. Bailey, 


16 58 


Stephen Bathrick, 


20 


86 


Robert Butterfield, 


1 50 


Stillman Brooks, 


28 


61 


Philip F. Bowman, 


6 97 


Ahijah W, Benjamin, 


22 


28 






William S. Bradbury, 


23 


46 


^Maynard Clapp, 


1 50 


Ivers Brooks, 


9 


28 


Jeremiah Conlan, 


8 87 


Alexander Bigelow, 


5 


71 


John G. T. Criiise, 


5 80 


Eber Baker, 


28 


00 


Joshua Cummings, 


23 10 


HoUis Bolton, 


29 


02 


Chandler Curtis, 


19 50 


Relief Bond, 


7 


37 


Russell E. Curtis, 


1 50 


Betsey Bacon, 


8 


48 


Reuben Chesmore, 


14 82 


Joel S. Burpee, 


1 


68 


Nathan H. Cutting, 


7 98 


Gamaliel S. Beaman, 


3 


30 


Asa Cutting, 


9 42 


George Bruce, 


9 


51 


Jonas Cutler, 


31 74 


Joel Benton, 


2 


94 


Amos ^I. Cutler, 


6 40 


Samuel L. Bridge, 


10 


91 


John Collins, 


4 38 


John Billings, 


1 


50 


George T. Carter, 


1 50 


Alden B. Baker, 


1 


50 


Jonas Cutting, 


9 42 


Simeon L. Bolton, 


4 


20 


Nathaniel Wood, as Admin'r ) 
on S. Cooper's Estate, ) 


102 54 


Elmer Baker, 


9 


02 


Timothy Brown, 


23 


06 


Charles Coolcdge, 


17 88 


Adonijah, and C.II., and ) 
W. F. Barnes, 5 


Ot 


75 


Edward R. Carter, 


15 54 


zo 


Walter V. Carr, 


16 69 


Willard Battles, 


lo 


25 


John R. Coolcdge, 


17 05 


Asaph Bush, 


4 


56 


Malachi Cary, 


5 24 


Benjamin F. Battles, 


22 


55 


John F. Gushing, 


5 42 


Flavel H. Barnes, 


1 


50 


Hugh Cary, 


5 81 


Abel Bennett, 


19 


65 


Marshall Coolcdge, 


1 50 


John Brashnain, 


7 


98 


John Cary, 


6 41 


Benjamin Blake, 


3 


60 


Alonzo Curtis, 


24 40 


Edwin Blake, 


2 


08 


Michael Carey, • 


2 44 



124 



Luke W. Carter, 


$ 1 72 


Israel N. Carter, 


11 67 


Thomas Cary, 


1 50 


Rufus B. Cook, 


1 50 


James Callary, 


1 50 


Freeman Clark, 


2 22 


Lawrence Croney, 


3 52 


Wallace Cheney, 


1 50 


Charles Cutler, 


13 85 


Caleb W. Cutter, 


1 50 


Clark, Nichols & Co. 


45 17 


Samuel Clark, 


4 74 


Harvey Clark, 


1 50 


John Gary, 


2 58 


Thomas Carter, 


1 50 


Patrick Callary, 


1 72 


Aaron Derby, 


1 50 


Asa Dike, 


15 07 


Thomas Drury, 


15 19 


Israel Dickinson, 


1 50 


Israel Dickinson, Jr. 


19 70 


Thomas Damon, 


30 55 


Luke DivoU, 


14 06 


Vinall S. Dunn, 


5 67 


Almond Derby, 


9 71 


John J. Dupee, 


12 67 


Leander H. Dupee, 


6 18 


Abner E. Drury, 


1 50 


Abner M. Druiy, 


15 54 


Michael Day, 


4 16 


Timothy J. Devine, 


1 08 


John Danvee, 


5 34 


John Donley, 


4 56 


Patrick Donley, 


2 80 


Ferdinand Dickinson, 


1 50 


Joseph Dutton, 


1 50 


Henry N. Derby, 


1 50 


John C. Everett, 


12 06 


Nathan Eaton, 


5 28 


Nathan Eaton, Jr. 


5 18 


Marshall Eaton, 


9 95 


Millicent Estabrook, 


14 72 


Betsey Estabrook, 


1 94 


Mary Estabrook, 


1 62 


John Estabrook, 


2 81 


Wmiam Edgell, 


5 10 


Ellery Estabrook, 


19 39 


Simeon Eaton, 


1 50 


James M. Eaton, 


1 50 


"William Eaton, 


6 46 


Wid. Lucv W. Estey, 


27 11 


Preston P". Ellis, 


6 18 


Stillman Eaton, 


9 79 


Augustus Eager, 


14 69 


Charles A. Estabrook, 


5 32 


Oliver B. Estey, 


6 42 


Horatio Eager, 


32 46 


William W. Estey, 


2 94 


John T. Emerson, 


2 76 


Francis Estey, 


2 94 


Preston Ellis, 


29 11 



John Foskett, 

Daniel Foskett, 

Simon Foskett, 

M. S. and C. A. Forbush, 

Reuben Fenno, 

Barney Fitz Morris, 

Joseph W. Forbush, 

As Executor on the Estate 
of J. K. Gates, 
Franklm B. Fenno, 
Albert Forbush, 
George Findell, 
Otis Flagg, 
Levi Feltch, 

Samuel Gates, 
Asaph Gates, 
William P. Gray, 
Jonathan S. Gray, 
Sylvester Gray, 
Levi Graves, 
James E. Gates, 
George AV. Gibbs, 
B. F. D. Gibbs, 
Leonard M. Gates, 
Martm Griffin, 
Carlos Griffin, 
Patrick Gately, 
James Griffin, 
Harry Green, 
Warren P. Gibbs, 
Calvin G. Goodridgc, 
Heirs of Thomas Gaut, 
Patrick Griffin, 
Mary E. Goddard, 
Martin Gately, 
Walter E. Goodridge, 

John Haywood, 
Joseph Iloward, 
David W. Hill, 
Lucia M. B. Hill, 
Nathan Howard, 
Joseph Howard, 2d, 
Franklin Howe, 
George Harris, 
AVilliam Hadley, 
Phineas P. Hartwell, 
Benjamin Harrington, 
Amos B. Holden, 
Wid. Betsey Holden, 
Wid. Mary Hagar, 
George W. Hagar, 
Jonas and Handel Holden, 
Benjamin Howe, 
Daniel Harrington, 
Asa Holden, 
Leonard Hoar, 
John Hoar, 
Wid. Hannah Howe, 
AVillard Houghton, 
Leander Hartwell, 
John Horn, 
Isaac Hall, 



13 75 

8 45 

2 54 

74 12 

18 42 

2 58 

59 64 

13 68 



50 
50 
50 
51 
53 



16 17 
7 78 
6 90 

2 07 
1 50 
6 10 

4 63 

3 64 
1 50 

16 23 

1 50 

5 28 

4 27 

2 58 
4 49 
4 60 

10 92 
2 88 

1 50 

2 43 

4 00 
1 50 

42 70 
9 46 

14 54 

5 04 
10 75 

9 86 
27 30 
16 30 

4 23 

15 37 
12 49 

4 38 

72 

19 94 

30 34 

10 31 



91 
92 
50 
20 
55 
72 

2 41 

3 93 
1 60 

23 94 



125 



Charles Howe, 
Frederick J. Hay, 
Charles H. Howe, 
Calvin Holden, 
Joseph Hackett, 
William B. Howe, 
George H. Harris, 
Rufus Howe, 
Gardner Howe, 
Malcus Harrington, 
Lucretia Howard, 

Milton Joslin, 
Ward Jackson, 
Josiah Jackson, 
Edward and L. Jackson, 
Levi Jackson, 
William G. Jaquith, 

Samuel G. Kendall, 

Trustee for Heirs of A. Fowle, 
Kendall & Cheney, 
Kendall & Forbush, 
Thomas Knower, 
Horace B. Knower, 
Sylvanus Kendall, 
William L. Kilgore, 
Thomas Kendall, 
Ezekiel Kendall, 
James Kcnney, 
George King, Jr. 
Barthey Kclty, 
Samuel D. Knight, 

John Lewis, 
D. and J. H. Laws, 
David Laws, 
John H. Jjcarned, 
Franklin Lumbard, 
John Lynde, 
Greenleaf Lamb, 
Henry Lucas, 
Amos Lewis, 
H. J. Leland, 
Stephen F. Lamb, 
John G. Lamb. 
Oliver T. Leighton, 
Ephraim Lovkin, 
Crosby Lewis, 
John Lamore, 



John Merriam Estate, 
Caleb S. ^lerriam, 
Jonas Merriam, 
Oliver ^L Merriam, 
Joel ilerriam, 
Merriam & Holden, 
Farwell Morse, 
Sewall Morse, 
Joel jNIerriam, Jr. 
Merriam & Hill, 
Thomas Merriam, 
Caleb S. Merriam, as Agent 
for Wear, 



M 


09 


13 


99 


1 


75 


5 


28 


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97 


1 


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82 




34 


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64 


1 


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9 


83 


25 


20 


3 


60 


1 


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96 


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14 


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15 


84 


13 


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10 


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5 


82 


2 


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13 


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23 


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12 


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88 


14 


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22 


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58 


58 


7 


82 


12 


95 


11 


65 


2 


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32 


52 



60 



Artemas Merriam, 

Noah May, 

Wid. Achsah Mosman, 

Abel Mosman, 

Silas and Charles Mosman, 

■Silas ]Mosman, 

Daniel Mosman, 

John ^losman, 

Stephen Mosman, 

Daniel Miles, 

Daniel C. :Miles, 

Charles ^losman, 

George Miles, 

Agent for Louisa Jones, 
" for Mary Jones, 
William MaA'o, 
John C. Miller, 
Jonas Miller, 
^larratt Morris, 
John ililler, 
Amos Miller, 
Joseph X. ilinott, 
George W. ^lerriam, 
Patrick McCarty, 
John Minott, 
Heed ^lerriam, 
Lorenzo Mansur, 
Francis S. Morse, 
Albert Minott, 
Patrick ^McDonald, 
Edward P. Miller, 
Asaph L. iloody, 
George W. Miller, 
Reuben P. Merriam, 
Frederick Minott, 
Calvin Miller, 
Marius H. Moore, 
Austin ^losman, 
Luther ^laynard, 
Hannah Miller, 

Edmund Nichols, 
George F. Clark, and Angus- ) 
tus E. Nichols, 5 

Henry E. Newell, 
Joel Newton, 
William Nichols, 

Lawrence O'Neal, 
^Marshall Oliver, 
Clarendon Oxford, 

Achsah and Maria Perkins, ) 

and Achsah Hawkes, 
Josiah Page, 
Russell Pratt, 
Joseph Perry, 
Major Page, 
Amos Patridge, 
Michael I'lunket, 
Hiram Polly, 
Robert Peckham, 
James Pierce, 
Edmund A. Proctor, 



!!i2 52 
9 42 

7 45 
36 

1 30 

2 22 
14 17 

6 0!) 

1 50 
21 84 
19 71 

2 22 
44 81 

36 

36 

27 42 

27 47 

19 01 

1 08 

1 50 

31 02 
11 58 
13 63 

2 48 
36 14 

32 37 
1 50 

8 64 
5 62 
1 50 

7 43 
50 
50 



5 



1 
1 

11 37 

1 50 

1 50 

6 54 

1 50 



19 


03 




54 


91 


61 


12 


59 


2 


36 


21 


26 


1 


82 


1 


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3 


48 


4 


44 



2 74 



50 


56 


5 


66 




54 


19 


22 


5 


45 


1 


80 


5 


56 


7 


62 


17 


33 


11 


38 



126 



Samuel H. Peckham, 
Alonzo A. Pratt, 
Bushrod W. Prescott, 
Amos Pierce, 
Elisha Pierce, 
Preston Pond, 
Jonathan Petts, 
James Puffer, 
Harvey Peirce, 
Wid. Mary Parker, 
Hartford Potter, Guardian for } 
"Wallace Buttertield, 5 

Francis Prew, 
Porter F. Page, 
Ivory Phillips, 
George Peirce, 

Ives Ray, 

Solon Raymond, 

Nathan Raymond, 

Milton Raymond, 

Abijah H. Raymond, 

Aretas Raymond, 

Jonah Rice, 

William E. Rice, 

George Raymond, 

James Ryan, 

Anson Ray, 

Asaph Rice, 

Asa W. Rand Estate, 

Joel Rice, 

Asa and Eli W. Raymond, 

Henry M. Raymond, 

Martin Ryan, 

Clark Rice, 

Phineas W. Reed, 

Ephraim H. Rand, 

William C. Rand, 

Jason Richardson, 

William Sawin, 
Charles H. Steams, 
J. W. Sawin, 
Joseph Sawin, 
Reuben Sawin, 
Anson Spaulding, 
John Sawin, 
Levi Sawyer, 
James Sawin, Jr. 
Isaac Seaver, 2d, 
James SaAvin, 
Isaac Seaver, 
Asahel Seaver, 
Widow Mary Smith, 
Amos P. Spaulding, 
Oliver Sampson, 
Job W. Seaver, 
Amos Saunders, 
Aaron Sawin, 
George Smith, 
Joshua Smith, 
Jonathan Sawin, 
Daniel H. Stone, 
Samuel H. Sprague, 



$1 


50 


10 


14 


2 


11 


3 


16 


18 


32 


1 


50 


4 


63 


33 


14 


1 


50 


14 


40 


2 


16 


1 


50 


2 


08 


5 


10 


1 


50 


11 


38 


25 


46 


1 


50 


2 


04 


16 


77 


2.5 


96 


4 


24 


6 


22 


3 


48 


2 


62 


26 


09 


2 


58 


5 


04 


6 


83 


34 


01 


3 


17 


1 


50 


1 


50 


79 


53 


2 


44 


1 


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1 


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14 


88 


19 


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13 


98 


12 


73 


10 


80 


10 


44 


28 


35 


1 


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16 


40 


11 


82 


1 


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21 


73 


9 


28 


5 


76 


13 


38 


16 


01 


18 


78 


4 


02 


2 


22 


28 


46 


5 


86 


3 


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2 


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38 


25 



John Stickney, 
Lvman Seaver, 
Walter H. Sawtell, 
Norman Seaver, 
Stillman Sawyer, 
Charles G. Starkey, 
Sanford M. Sawin, 
Isaac Seaver, 3d, 
Sawin & Foster, 
Alonzo J. Stone, 
Joseph Simmons, 
Chauncey H. Stone, Ex'r on 
Estate of Mary Cooper, 

Brown E. Totingham, 
Wid. Elisha Totingham, 
Benjamin Tilden, 
Abraham Totingham, 
Otis Titus, 
Solomon F. Towne, 
George W. Towne, 
George AV. Towne, as Agent ) 
for P. F. Towne, 5 

George W. Totingham, 
Josiah S. Tucker, 
Francis W. Tufts, 

James Underwood, 
Charles Upton, 



Handel Winship, 
Lorenzo Winship, 
Marshall White, 
Sylvester Winship, 
Charles Winship, 
Simeon Warren, 
^liriam AVarren, 
Theodore AAliitney, 
John AVhitney, 
Abner AVhitney, 
AVid. Nancy AVood, 
David AVjnnan, 
AVid. Jane AVyman, 
Jonas AVhitney, 
Aaron AVhitney, 
Smyrna AVhitney Estate, 
Joseph G. AVhitney, 
David AA^hitney, 
David AMiitney, Jr. 
George AV. AVhitney, 
Benjamin AA''\nnan, 
Franklin AA'^yman, 
Aaron AVood, 2d, 
Calvin AA^hitney, 
Benjamin F. AVood, 
C. M. E. AVood, 
John M. A\Tiitnev, 
T. D. AA'ood, 
Emery AVarner, 
James B. AA''ood, 
Aaron AVood, 

Aaron AA''ood, Adm'r on Es- 
tate of Moses Cutter, 
Abraham AVood, 



I 3 20 
1 50 
1 50 
1 50 

13 59 
1 50 

1 50 
8 20 

20 05 
37 72 
10 13 

8 59 

3 73 

2 52 

1 50 

3 44 

19 72 

4 38 
16 99 

2 88 

6 43 

2 40 
1 50 

1 72 
19 14 

1 50 
31 24 
30 70 
23 64 

4 02 
19 08 

72 

8 92 

19 00 

22 45 

8 64 

23 78 

7 56 

22 24 
13 12 

9 00 

8 40 

3 27 

1 50 
30 96 
59 43 

176 14 

9 78 
27 37 

23 46 

2 16 

4 38 
25 50 

5 10 
9 85 

36 44 

2 16 

II 58 



127 



Lucy B. Wood, Adm'x on the ) 
Estate of Sylvester Miller, j 

Lucy B. "Wood, 

Benjamin II. "Wliitney, 

Joseph Whitman, Executor on 
Estate of Mary Hill, 

Joseph Whitman, 

J. M. AVhitman, 

Jerome Whitman, 

^Marcus "\Miitman, 

Alonzo Whitman, 

Asa P. Whitney, 

Wyman, Tylston & Wilder, 

Caleb Witherbee, 

Allen B. Wood, 

Joseph Woodbury, 

Silas Ward, 

Wid. Ann ^I. Whitney, 

Jonas N. Whitnev, 

Wid. Abigail P. Wears, 

ilary A. Wears, exempt, 

Wid. Betsey Wheeler, " 

Wid. Mary Wlieeler, " 



8 7 20 



119 
1 
4 
5 



Dr. Clinton Warner, 
Horace S. AVoodward, 
Augustine Whitney, 
Stillman Whitney, 
Thomas P. Williams, 
T. P. Williams, Agent for 

William Packard, 
Edward Whitman, 
Stephen C. Whitney, 
Josephus Wood, 
Nancy M. Wood, 
George Wood, 2d, 
Clinton D. Wheeler, 
Lafayette Willard, 
Addison E. Winch, 
Stephen Wheeler, 
James Wheeler, 
Peter Wright, 
Stephen Wood, 
George AVood, 
Lovina Wheeler, 

Orange Young, 



■! 2 


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8 


•52 


5 


53 


1 


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7 


54 


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50 




50 




12 




54 




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50 




30 




50 




50 




50 


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08 


10 


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1 


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16 


14 



11 l: 



REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT, 

From 1780 to 1859, arranged in the order in which the name first 
appears, unth the years against each name. 



Abn'er Holdex, 1781, '82, '86, '87. 
Elisha Jackson, 1783, '85. 
JosiAH Puffer, 1787, '91, '92. 
Stephen Holden, 1788. 
Ebenezer Jones, 1796, '97, '99, 1800. 
Jonas Whitney, 1802 to '14. 
Abel Wood, 1809 to '14. 
James White, 1815 to '18, '20. 
Alexander Dustin, 1815 to '17. 
Edward Kendall, 1820, '21, 34. 
Timothy Doty, 1824, '27. 
Simeon Sanderson, 1828. 
Charles Hudson, 1829 to '32. 



Cyrus Winship, 1829 to '32. 
MiRARi Spaulding, 1834. 
Josiah Howe, 1835. 
Joseph H. Whitney, 1836 to '39. 
Joseph Whitman, 1837. 
Edward Bacon, 1843. 
William S. Bradbury, 1845. 
John White, 1851. 
John Minott, 1852. 
George Kendall, 1854. 
Edward Kendall, Jr. 1855. 
Harrison G. Whitney, 1856, '57. 
AViLLiAM ALvYo, 1859. 



N. B. — In the years not mentioned above, the Towni was not represented. 
Mr. Mayo represented the District composed of AVestminster and Gardner. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction, p. 5.... Indians submit to the Colony, p. 6....Narraganset War, 
p. 6... .Grant to the Soldiers, p. 7"->Meeting of the Grantees, p. 8.... Companies 
drew their Townships, p. 9. ...Lots laid out in No. 2, p. 10. ...First House and Saw 
Mill erected, p. 11.. ..Bounty to Settlers, p. 12....Fairbank More settled, p. 13.... 
Joseph Holden settled, p. 14.... Privations, p. 15. ...Marked Road to Lancaster, 

p. 17-. ..Philip Bemis, p. 17 Thomas Bemis, p. 18... .Meeting-house built, p. 18 

....Thomas Stearns, p. 19... .Grist Mill, p. 19... .Daniel Hoar, p. 19.. ..Joseph 
Miller, p. 20....Lynde, Garfield, and Graves, p. 21... .Bigelow, p. 22... .Samuel 
Whitney, p. 23.... Hadley, Baldwin, Dunster, Smith, Walker, Horseley and Sted- 
man, p. 24. ...Rev. Mr. Marsh settled, p. 2o....Fear of the Indians, p. 26. ...Pro- 
prietors' Meeting held in the Township, and Petition for an Act of Incorporation, 
p. 28.... Names of the Inhabitants in 17-59 and '60, p. 29....Mileses, p. 30.... Wood, 
p. 31....Estabrook, Rand and Woodward, p. 32.. . .Taylor, Conant, Dike, Baker and 
Edgell, p. 33....Jacksons, Whitneys, and Harrington, p. 34. ...Brooks, Winship, 
Cohee and Walker, p. 35.. . .District incorporated, p. 35.... Epidemic, p. 36... .Rev. 
Mr. Rice settled, p. 36... .Incident in the French War, p. 38... .Immigrants from 
1760 to 1770, p. 38... .A Resolution against Idleness, p. 39.. ..Town incorporated, 
p. 40.... Preparation for the Revolution, p. 40... .Importance of Town Meetings, 
p. 41... .Soldiers furnished in the Revolution, p. 42.... Rejection of the new Consti- 
tution, p. 47 ....Struggles during the Revolution, p. 48.... State of things after the 

Revolution, p. 48 Settlers from 1770 to 1780, p. 49 Warned out of Town, p. 50 

....A tract of territory set off to constitute the Town of Gardner, p. 50.... New 
Meeting-house erected, p. 50.... Schools, p. 51. ...New Settlers, p. 52... .Statistics 
of Population, &c. p. 52. ...Value of Houses in 1798, p. 53... .Manufactures, p. 55 
....Religious Societies, p. 55.... Public Health, p. 56.... Situation and Extent, &c. 

of the Town, p. 57 Public Men, p. 59 Title to the Lands, p. 60 Manners 

and Customs a Century ago, p. 63.... Character of the Puritans, p. 65.... Conclusion, 
p. 67. 

List of the Grantees, p. 69. 

Poem, p. 73. 

Proceedings, p. 97 Officers of the Day, p. 98.... Escort, p. 99.... The Charac- 
ter of the Day, p. 100.... The Procession, p. 101.... Exercises at the Speaker's Stand, 

p. 102 President's Speech at the Table, p. 104 Remarks of Mr. Smith, p. 106 

....Letter of Hon. Abijah Bigelow, p. 107..- -Remarks of Dr. Allen, p. 108.... 
Remarks of Mr. Miller, p. 109.... Response of Mr. Miles, p. 111... .Remarks of Mr. 

Kendall, p. Ill Letter of Dr. Wyman, p. 112.. ..Letter of Mr. Hoard, p. 113 

Letter of Mr. White, p. 114.... Remarks of Messrs, Merriam and Peckham, p. 115 
Remarks of Mr. Folger, p. 117 Ode, p. 119. 

Town Officers, p. 122.... Tax-payers, p. 123. ...Representatives to the General 
Court, 127. 



[H? In the list of petitioners, page 29, for James Winship, read Jonas Winship. 
On page 98, for Dr. Clinton Warren, read Dr. Clinton Warner. 







^ (33) (if? 



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